Published 4/1/19
Read Mark 1:9-11
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Reflect
· Are you pursuing God's design for your life--or are you following your own agenda?
· Now ask yourself two fundamental questions: How do I find my place within the body of Christ? How do I choose a path in life that will take me in the direction He desires?
· God speaks sometimes through our circumstances and guides us, closing doors as well as opening them. He will let you know what you must do, and what you must be. What is He saying to you right now?
Before launching His ministry, Jesus did three things: He committed His life to fulfilling God's will, no matter the cost; He was publicly baptized; He received the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows that the Third Person of the Trinity is the one true "compass" for our souls, the Helper who guides our steps, the very Spirit of Truth.[1]
Part of Christ's baptism was intended to be public--a way to identify with those He came to save; a symbol of solidarity with humanity.[2] But an important part of it was very personal. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus as He came up out of the water, and then God spoke a blessing into His life: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
Pray
Lord, reveal Your eternal purpose for my life. Amen. Ask Jesus to give you courage to seek answers to your questions, the humility to accept them and the faith to commit your desires fully to Him. Ask Him to bring the sources of His truth into your life that will mold you into the person He wants you to be.
[1] See John 14:15-18.
[2] Anderson, Jesus: An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, and His People, 33.
Comments