Jesse Tree Devotional for December 21st

December 21

Repentance Makes a Way

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:1-6
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Deserts are dry, parched, thirsty places. John knew this—the Desert of Judea was his home.

But repentance changes all that. Repentance is preparation for quenching, for new growth, for rain showers of hope and fertility. Repentance washes away our sins and makes a straight path for You, God to come near.

And so people came out of their own personal deserts, to confess, repent and plunge themselves in the cool, flowing waters of the River Jordan—to be washed clean of the past and its pain…and to be drenched in newness of Life.

In the wrapping and the baking and the preparation, have I repented and prepared the way for You, Lord?

Lord, may I repent, for the Kingdom of heaven—You—are near. In the midst of it all, may I take time to repent—for that is preparing the way for You to come to me.