Starting Over
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, make me alive in You today as I seek to do Your will.
Read Matthew 3:13–17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Every day presents a fresh opportunity to hear from God. Still your mind and prepare to listen.Baptism marks a change of direction and a new start. For us that means turning away from sin, but it cannot mean that for Jesus. So why does he get baptized (15)? To show his complete obedience to God and his total willingness to do God’s will. To show that he is fully human and shares our experiences.
No sooner has Jesus demonstrated that he is one with us than God declares that he is one with God. Only by being both God and man can Jesus sort out the problem of human rebellion. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We can’t make ourselves right with God, but Jesus can.
Right here at the start of his ministry, God sets his seal of approval on all that Jesus is going to do, and the Spirit comes on Jesus. The whole Godhead, Father, Son and Spirit, is involved in our salvation. How does that make you feel?
Different churches have different understandings of baptism. But whatever our views and practice baptism declares that we have been put right with God. And that means that we have to live in a different way. How is that working out in your life?
Apply
Do you need to be baptized? Do it! Do you need to make a public declaration today that you are a follower of Jesus? Do it!
Closing prayer
Take time to tell God about your willingness to do his will today. Ask him to help you walk in complete obedience.
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