Isaiah 62—Stay Alert!

When John the Baptist was preaching, his goal was to prepare the way for Jesus and to point others to Him. 

At times, he acted the part of a watchman on the city walls of ancient times–giving warnings of danger to people who didn’t realize that the enemy was creeping into their lives, encouraging them to repent before their actions and attitudes destroyed them. 

At other times John was encouraging people to follow Jesus, showing by both his words and actions that he believed that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away our sins. 

Isaiah 62 reminds me of John’s ministry. 

Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples. 
Behold, the Lord has proclaimed 
to the end of the earth: 
Say to the daughter of Zion, 
“Behold, your salvation comes; 
behold, his reward is with him, 
and his recompense before him. 
(Isaiah 62:10-11, ESV) 

I am also reminded of our responsibility to share with others the news of Jesus’ coming. This time He will come, not as the Lamb to bear our sins, but as the King who has His reward of salvation to give to all who have developed a vital connection with Him. 

We, like John the Baptist, need to be watchmen–encouraging each other to stay awake and warning that there is an enemy who is trying to sneak into our lives. 

And like John, we need to point people to Jesus–showing them His love, show-ing by our lives and actions what Jesus can do for and through those who put their trust in Him. 

Stay alert! Be faithful! Encourage others! Jesus is coming and with Him comes our salvation! 

___________ 

Adapted from a devotion by Shelli Baze, entitled “Isaiah 62—Stay Alert!” posted March 4, 2014 at https://inchristalonedevotions.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/isaiah-62-stay-alert/ Accessed 13 Nov 2020.