Luke 3:5–6: “Every valley shall be filled / And every mountain and hill brought low; / And the crooked places shall be made straight / And the rough ways smooth; / And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

February 14th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

John the Baptist quoted Isaiah 40:4, which described something that was a common occurrence in biblical times. If a monarch wanted to travel to inspect his kingdom, he would send a crew of workmen ahead to make sure the road was clear of obstructions, making the journey as smooth as possible. In a spiritual sense, John was calling the people of Israel to prepare their hearts for the coming of their Messiah King. The message addresses 4 parts of a person’s character that need correction. These spiritual realities can be found in all of our lives.

1) The valleys being filled represents the emotionally depressed and despairing low times being elevated. If you feel worthless, depressed, and insignificant; or if you feel your life is meaningless, then look to God and He will lift you up. To say, “I have no hope,” is to say that you have no expectation of coming good from God and that is sin. Repent and call out to God. He will fill you.

2) The mountains and hills being brought low represents the arrogant and proud heart being humbled. If you feel self-satisfied, perfectly sufficient to handle your own affairs, then you need to come down in order to find God. British Pastor F.B. Meyer said, “Cherish the lowest thought you choose of yourself, but unite it with the loftiest conception of God’s all-sufficiency.” God will meet us there if we humble ourselves under His mighty hand.

3) The crooked places being straightened represents hearts that are twisted and trapped in dishonesty and corruption of all kinds. If we are handling things in a crooked manner, devious in our business dealing and untrustworthy in our relationships with others, then we must repent. There is hope; Jesus can make us straight.

4) The rough ways being smoothed speaks of hearts that are rough, rude, and crude in their ways, like the cynical who are convinced that their opinion is always right.

There is no way for us to fill these valleys or level these mountains. We cannot cut sin out of the human heart with a knife; but the Great Surgeon, the Holy Spirit Himself, can do that for us if we ask. That’s exactly what John was saying here. God smoothes and straightens, fills and brings low those who submit to Him. Ezekiel also tells us that God gives us a heart of flesh and causes us to walk with Him (Eze. 36:26­–27).

“LORD, we repent and turn to You. Heal us we ask, in Jesus’ name.”