Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Sapper


Sapper ready to Prepare the Way
Courtesy photobucket.com
 
As Pastor Jerry read from Luke 3:1-6 about John being the one sent to prepare the Way for the Messiah, I took notes and gleaned from his sermon. 
 
Pastor began by mentioning a famous maze in England.  It is an outdoor garden that many get lost in and cannot find their way.  Life is like that at times, with confusion and seemingly no direction ahead. 

The trick is to know which turns to take that will lead you easily through the maze.  It is in being prepared and knowing the WAY ahead of time.

An illustration was given, if you had eight hours to cut down a huge tree and all you had was an axe, what would you do?  Abraham Lincoln when asked this question said, “I would spend six hours sharpening that axe.”  It pays to be prepared.

Luke put it into human context.  John the son of Zechariah began to preach the gospel of repentance and forgiveness from sin.  John’s cry was to repent and change your ways!

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.

Pastor used the word Sapper, and gave the picture of an army of engineers going forth to prepare the roads prior to the coming of the King.  For safety sake, they would level the hills, fill in the pot holes, smooth the roads and make the crooked places straight in preparation for the King’s arrival.

The shepherds followed the star that shone so bright - - to find the King.  They could have said, we have things we need to do first, but they would have missed out.

We are that shinning light that others are watching, and may we lead them to find Jesus.

The burden is on us to be a SAPPER, to prepare the way for others.  Our family, our friends, those we work with.  Sharpen your knowledge of the scriptures and know what you believe and be able to share with others the way!

Like unto the Maze there is only one way to go, and no detours allowed.


This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays
Linked up with Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday use it on Monday
Also shared with Laura at The Wellspring


 

3 comments:

Pamela said...

That maze makes my heart pound! Claustrophobic. But oh to be a Sapper--to prepare the way for others. That's my deepest desire.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful illustration. It's a good thing we know the One who rescues us from the maze by giving us a scarlet cord.

Laura said...

I have never heard that word used that way, Hazel. Sapper. I want to be one!