Morning & Evening Devotional Reading

 January 3– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, Revised and Edited by W. C. Neff

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'” 

—Luke 3:47

The voice crying in the wilderness demanded that a way for the Lord be prepared, and it was to be prepared in the wilderness. I would be wise to attend to the Master’s proclamation and give him a road into my heart which he will build by His grace through the desert of my nature. In this text, there are four directions that require my serious attention.

First, every valley must be exalted. Low and groveling thoughts of God must be given up; doubting and despairing must be removed; self-seeking and carnal delights must be forsaken. Across these deep valleys, a glorious causeway of grace must be raised.

Secondly, every mountain and hill shall be laid low. Proud creature-sufficiency and boastful self-righteousness must be leveled to make a highway for the King of kings. Divine fellowship is never given to proud, high-minded sinners. The Lord gives grace to the lowly and visits the contrite in heart, but the lofty are an abomination unto him.

Thirdly, the crooked shall be made straight. The wavering heart must have a straight path for God and holiness marked out for it. Double-minded men are strangers to the God of truth. Take heed that you be in all things honest and true as in the sight of the heart-searching God.

And fourthly, the rough places shall be made smooth. Stumbling blocks of sin must be removed, and thorns and briers of rebellion must be uprooted. So great a visitor must not find muddy ways and stony places when he comes to honor his favored ones with his company.

Oh that this evening the Lord may find in my heart a highway made ready by his grace, that he may make a triumphal procession through the most hidden regions of my soul, from the beginning of this year to the very end. [M&E]