Guardian Angel Store - Christian gifts and books to share your values

Site Search:

Store Search:

Home > Forums > Reflections > Prepare the Path of the Lord Home | Forums | My Account |  My Wishlist  |  Cart Contents  |  Checkout  |  www.GuardianAngelStore.com is RSS enabled.  Add this link to your feed reader to get our news updates.  In the forums add the link next to the forums you want to receive updates for.
 Navigation

Main
 Home
General
 News
 News Submission
 News Topics
 Search
 Sitemap
Community
 Forums
 Web Links
Members
 Account
Information
 About Us
 Contact
 FAQ
 Legal Documents
 Link To Us

 
 Shopping

Aids--Classroom, Bible, Office
Angels
Automotive
Bereavement & Memorial
Bible Center
Books
Books, Used
Candles & Necessities
Church Supplies
Clothing
Collectibles/Figurines
Crosses/Crucifixes
Devotions
Encouragement/Inspirational Gift
Garden Decor
Gifts for Family & Friends
Home Treasures
Jewelry
Knights of Columbus Gifts
Love, Weddings & Marriage
Media - CDs/DVDs/Software
Message Cards
Names to Remember
Patriotism
Pocket Coins & Tokens
Sacramentals
Sacraments
Saints
Special Seasons
Sports
Toys/Games


New Products

Shop by Price
Under $10
From $10 - $30
From $30 - $50
From $50 - $100
Above $100
All Price Ranges
 
Guardian Angel Store: Forums

The Guardian Angel Store Forums :: View topic - Prepare the Path of the Lord
 Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Prepare the Path of the Lord

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Guardian Angel Store Forums Forum Index -> Reflections Printable Version
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Prayer-Soldier
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: Apr 18, 2009
Posts: 1001


Status: Offline

PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:54 am    Post subject: Prepare the Path of the Lord Reply with quote

Prepare the Path of the Lord

Scripture:


And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the girdle of his reins.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them. The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on other hole of the asp: and the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk. They shall not hurt, nor shall they kill in all my holy mountain, for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the covering waters of the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulcher shall be glorious.
(Isaiah 11:1-10)

For what things soever were written were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, one towards another, according to Jesus Christ: That with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, receive one another, as Christ also has received you, unto the honor of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to you, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to your name. (Romans 15:4-9)

And in those days comes John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. And the same John had his garment of the hair of a camel, and a leather girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: You brood of vipers, who has shown you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
(Matthew 3:1-12)

Reflection:

The prophesy of old reveals the coming of a time where peace shall reign. Some are tempted to believe that peace is only possible through a mighty hand, one stronger than any foe; therefore, the expectation of some was that their Messiah would come with great might and command armies who would lay waste of adversaries and oppressors.

We do not see as God sees; therefore, the solutions we expect are not always aligned with His wisdom. We see only what our senses reveal to us, but God sees all in heaven, on earth and across the generations. We often times set before Him our expectations and solutions to our tribulations, but instead, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us to a better path, the path of His love.

So it was, the One whom God sent to bring salvation to the children of His creation did not come with great armies, but with a much greater power to which we too often fail to turn. He came to teach us of this power, the power of the greatest commandments of God. Jesus told us that the whole law, by which we are called to live, depend upon these commandments. (Matthew 22:36-40) If we follow that which He teaches, then, the outcome delivers to us peace within our soul.

We must reflect that despite our differences within the world and appearance of diversity, each family tree traces back to the first man and woman of His creation. This means all who cross our path are children of His creation. It is the mischief of sin which causes us to turn upon one another rather than turning to one another with civility, compassion, charity and love. We must also reflect that it is through love by which we forgive and by which we are forgiven. It is through love by which we receive mercy and give mercy. It is through living by the commandments of love by which we may find peace within our lives and by which we may let go of the conflicts which serve only to lead us into the darkness.

The path to God is lit with the blessings of love. It is sin which causes us to turn away from this light. It is repentance and penance which enables us to turn away from the darkness and towards the light of His path, the path of love. God sent His only begotten Son as the light to this path.

To herald the coming of the One whom God sent to lead us into the light, God raised up John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, relatives of Mary, the virgin chosen by God to bring His Son into the world. (Luke 1:5-80) The voice of John cried out from the wilderness as prophesied by Isaiah. (Isaiah 40:3) John called the people to repent. He called the people to penance. He called for the people to prepare to receive the Lord. He was raised up by God to herald the way for the Lamb of God through whom all within the world might be saved. Though this cry was made long ago from the wilderness, through the scriptures, it continues on so that the ears of the generations may hear it.

The question for us, then, is will we heed? Will we repent? Will we do penance for our sins? Will we prepare ourselves to receive the Lamb of God? Will we allow Him to take away our sins? Will we allow our robes to be washed white in the blood of the Lamb? (Revelation 7:14)

This is only possible if we turn to Him. This is only possible if we accept the blessings of His love. This is only possible if we believe in Him. If we truly believe, then, we may receive the blessings of His promise, the promise that He will forgive our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities so we may receive His embrace and enter into His kingdom where love is shared by all, where evil and affliction are not allowed to follow and where life is eternal. Jesus will know our love and our belief in Him by our efforts to live by His commandments. (John 14:15)

Let us, then, heed the call from the wilderness. Let us, then, prepare the way by which we may join Him upon the path of love. Let us, then, pray that He will guide us so we may live the fullness of faith. Let us, then, remember the blessings of our baptism. Let us, then, denounce the ways of evil and turn away from the darkness so we may walk in the light of His peace, mercy, grace and love.

Questions for further reflection:

How may we hear the lone voice from the wilderness?

In what ways may we seek to learn the ways of the Lord?

In what ways may we be the source of good fruit?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier

Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Guardian Angel Store Forums Forum Index -> Reflections Printable Version All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

Related topics
 Topics   Replies   Author   Views   Last Post 
No new posts Prayers In Thanks for the Bread Sent From Heaven 0 Prayer-Soldier 8475 Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:26 am
Prayer-Soldier View latest post
No new posts The Bread Sent From Heaven 0 Prayer-Soldier 6537 Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:02 am
Prayer-Soldier View latest post
No new posts The Eternal Food from Heaven 0 Prayer-Soldier 9365 Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:04 am
Prayer-Soldier View latest post
No new posts A Time Between Heaven and Hell 0 nam-eno 34617 Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:29 am
nam-eno View latest post
No new posts I've died and gone to Heaven 2 churchdude 15621 Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:08 pm
churchdude View latest post
 
 Beyond Sodom and Gomorrah Prophecies and Promises
Beyond Sodom and Gomorrah Prophecies and Promises
 Antichrist and the End Times
Antichrist and the End Times
 13" WALNUT STAIN SICK CALL SET
13" WALNUT STAIN SICK CALL SET
 Behold the Beauty of the Lord
Behold the Beauty of the Lord
 Folk Mass by Mark O'Connor
Folk Mass by Mark O'Connor


Powered by phpBB 2.0.11 © 2001 phpBB Group
phpBB port v2.1 based on Tom Nitzschner's phpbb2.0.6 upgraded to phpBB 2.0.4 standalone was developed and tested by:
ArtificialIntel, ChatServ, mikem,
sixonetonoffun and Paul Laudanski (aka Zhen-Xjell).

Version 2.1 by Nuke Cops © 2003 http://www.nukecops.com

Contact | FAQ | Privacy | Disclaimer | Terms of Service

 

Thank you for visiting the Guardian Angel Store Online.
Call us at (970)-856-7333.

Christian Books, Christian Gifts, Christian Jewelry, Christian Home Decor, Christian Music, Christian Movies and more.
Our mission is the spread of Religious and Home Education in Christ.
For God commanded his angels to guard you in all your ways. Psalms 91:11

Search Engine Site Map


Online Payment Processing


Powered by Guardian Media Services

Page Generation: 0.36 Seconds