God's Word for Me Today
Tuesday, October 9, 2001
Focus: Our Mission: Equipping Christians in Western Pennsylvania
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Jesus was obedient to You in all things during His ministry on earth. Empower me this day by Your Holy Spirit, that I, too, made be obedient and pleasing to You. I pray that as I read Your Word this day that You will use it to transform me and to equip me to reach people around me with Your love. Guide my life today and always that I may glorify You! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John didn't want to baptize him. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" 15 But Jesus said, "It must be done, because we must do everything that is right. "So then John baptized him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him."
Questions for Reflection
Has anyone ever asked you to do something for them, and you didn’t want to do it because you didn’t feel worthy? If so, what was it?
When have you felt that you have been the most pleasing to God by something you have done?
Questions for Exploration
What was John’s response to Jesus request for baptism? (3:13-14)
What was Jesus’ response for being baptized? (3:15)
What was God’s response to Jesus’ baptism? (3:16-17)
Questions for Understanding
Why did Jesus see as being so important that He be baptized by John?
What does the image of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove do, and God the Father speaking words of affirmation do to confirm that Jesus’ ministry on earth was a “divine appointment”?
Questions for Application
Jesus was baptized because He wanted to do everything “right.” What is there in your life today that you need to set right with God or people? Take a few moments and consider this question seriously. Make a point to confess any sins to God, and get right with Him. Then make a point to right any situation that is in your power to change that is taking place with another.
Jesus received the Holy Spirit at the time of His baptism. Receiving the Holy Spirit is the power since for ministry. Pray for God to fill you anew with the Holy Spirit that you may serve him faithfully.
With whom will you have a conversation today to share some aspect of the Good News of Jesus Christ?
Receiving God’s Spirit and Approval!
When Jesus met John the Baptist in the Jordan River, a minor disagreement ensued. John didn’t want to baptize Jesus. John thought it ought to be the other way around, that Jesus ought to baptize him! Jesus stood His ground. Jesus knew that in order to do everything right He had to start out from a position of humility. He humbled Himself and received baptism, which was a sign of one’s repentance, even though Jesus never sinned! Immediately following the baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water two things happened: the Holy Spirit descended on Him baptizing, filling and empowering Him for ministry, and God spoke His approval from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with Him!” Jesus received both the Holy Spirit and God’s approval as he STARTED His earthly ministry.
As we seek to carry out Jesus’ ministry in our life, we must follow our Lord’s lead and be absolutely certain that we have received both the Holy Spirit and God’s approval before we seek to be agents of Jesus’ transformation in our world. How do we do that? Well, as with most matters in the Christian life, it’s quite simple to understand, but not always as easy to put into practice! All we have to do is ASK for the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us that if we ask, seek and knock, that we will be answered, find and have the door opened. Then He said that God will give the Holy Spirit to all who ask. (See Luke 11:9-13) So we ask for the Holy Spirit and God gives Him to us. To gain God’s approval we live in obedience to His will. Again this is simple. God has revealed His will to us in His Word, the Bible. He has revealed His will to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. God empowers us to do His will through the Holy Spirit. A Christian speaker named Randy Marshall, once said, “The Christian life says easy and does hard.” The reason that statement is true is that we have a tendency to act in our own power rather than relying on the Holy Spirit. If we’re going to equip Christians in western Pennsylvania to live out that transforming Good News of Jesus, part of the process—the key part of the process- is to turn the process over to God! We must let the Holy Spirit lead. Then we will have God’s approval as we go about our lives.
Right now would be a great time to dedicate ourselves once again to living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s close our time this day by praying together, “Heavenly Father, as you poured out Your Holy Spirit and Your approval upon Jesus on the day of His baptism, pour out Your Spirit upon us. We give ourselves to You. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices this day. Use us to glorify Yourself, to share the Good News of Jesus’ love with those around us, and to help others grow deeper in our common life in Jesus’ name. In all we are and all we do, live in us and through us that Your kingdom may come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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