What obstacles might hinder us from preparing the way for the LORD? Setting the Scene Isaiah 40:3: “A voice of one calling: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.’” God’s people were returning from exile; the prophetic call was to remove every barrier so His glory could be plainly seen (v. 5). That same call still echoes in every believer’s heart. Why Obstacles Matter • A straight path allows unhindered fellowship (Psalm 24:3-4). • Obstacles blur God’s glory from those who need to see it (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). • Clearing the way is an act of worship as much as song or service (Romans 12:1). Obstacles That Block the Highway • Pride – “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). Mountains of self-importance refuse to be leveled. • Unconfessed Sin – “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). Hidden sins clutter the road with fallen trees. • Idolatry – “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts” (Ezekiel 14:3). Love for anything above God erects detour signs. • Unforgiveness – “If you forgive others…your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). Bitterness fills potholes with jagged stones. • Distraction & Busyness – “Martha was distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40). The rush of good activities can crowd out the best. • Doubt & Unbelief – “See to it…that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart” (Hebrews 3:12). Skepticism twists the road into dangerous curves. • Fear & Anxiety – “Do not fear, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). Worry erects barricades of “what if.” • Worldliness – “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). Attraction to passing pleasures muddies the track. • Dead Religion – “This people honors Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). Ritual without repentance becomes sand that bogs the wheels. • Ignorance of the Word – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Without the map, roadwork never starts. Leveling, Straightening, Clearing • Repent quickly (1 John 1:9). • Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6). • Fix eyes on Jesus, not the world (Hebrews 12:2). • Practice forgiving as often as grace is received (Ephesians 4:32). • Guard daily time in Scripture and prayer (Joshua 1:8). • Lay every worry before the Lord with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). Living With an Open Highway When valleys are lifted and mountains made low, “the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). A cleared path means His presence travels freely through us, and those around us find the same straight, hope-filled road home. |
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