Wayside Chapel Daily Devotional 8th November 2024

 Wayside Chapel Daily Devotional 8th November 2024

11/8 Matthew 3:15

15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

Jesus began His ministry by going to John the Baptist to be baptized. When John heard Jesus' request, John said it was Jesus that should baptize him. Our verse today is Jesus' response. There was nothing for which Jesus needed to repent. Nevertheless, Jesus was obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit and leaving an example for us to follow (John 13:15). There are times when we will be led to do things simply as an example. If we expect others to do them, we should lead the way by living out what we are teaching.

The baptism of John was one of repentance of sin and preparing the heart to receive Jesus. Baptism after the death and resurrection of Jesus took on a new meaning. It is a picture of our associating ourselves with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. We go under the water to declare we have died to our old nature, and we rise to say we now live in the resurrected power of Christ.

As new creations in Christ Jesus, we are to do what Jesus did here in obeying the Holy Spirit wherever He may lead us. It may be to do things that seem unnecessary, but whatever He leads us to do will bear fruit. It is not important that we understand, but rather that we simply obey in faith. The results are His work.

Consider: One popular hymn by John H. Sammis declares, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey." Let us follow Jesus' example in all things.

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