Psalm 41:4
“I said, ‘Have mercy on me, LORD;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.’”
From its introduction to Broadway audiences in 1971, to moviegoers nation-wide in 1973, a musical took the country by storm with its off-beat, somewhat radical contemporary take on the Gospel of Matthew. Even today when I hear the words, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” my mind automatically switches to the engaging melody from “Godspell.”
John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, with his own radical no-nonsense style, preached in the wilderness of Judea calling for people to repent of their sins. His bold proclamation, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” which called on people to examine and open their hearts for change, was meant to foster a favorable environment for Jesus’ arrival. God used John’s message to prepare the people ahead of time to receive His teachings, allowing Him to enter into and operate in their lives. John’s primary message was that people they were lost and in need of repentance.
A simple definition of repentance is to make a heart decision to turn from the way we are going and to go the other way, the way that pleases God. It is like doing an about-face in our lives: acknowledging that we are sinners, that we need to be saved from sin, and that we will then make the decision to set a new course for our lives. This timeless message has not changed—Jesus still desires that we invite Him into our repentant hearts allowing Him to operate fully in our lives. Won’t you invite Him in today? How might you set a new course for your life?
Holy Spirit, in this first week of Lent, please shine Your light on our hearts to reveal anything hidden that separates us from You. With an attitude of repentance, we ask that You prepare us for a new direction in our lives on this earth and for Your Kingdom to come. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
~ painting by Jen Norton
