Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Roger Staubach, star Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys back in the 70s admitted to a time during his playing days with the Cowboys that was tough on him as a player. Though he won several Super Bowls with the storied franchise, there were times during his career where he struggled playing for the team. One time he shared about how during his tenure with the Cowboys he hardly ever got the chance to call plays for the offense, which was rather unusual for someone playing his position. He would have to run all the plays he received from the coach, having no real power to run the offense. He admitted that his pride was a struggle during those years. However, one truth he did reveal several years later was that after a while he was able to get over his pride and be obedient to his coach’s orders. He stated that once he learned to obey there was “harmony, fulfillment, and victory” in his craft.
Ol’ Roger Staubach understood the value of obedience didn’t he? In the same way Jesus of Nazareth understood the call to be obedient in his life. In Matthew 3 we see him interacting with John the Baptist in what was the beginning of his earthly ministry. Jesus came to meet John the Baptist to get baptized. Why? Did he need to be baptized? He was the Son of the living God! There was no need for him to get baptized right? He desired to be baptized out of obedience to God the father.
Jesus understood the importance of obedience to the Father. He was baptized out of obedience to the Father. Now understand that baptism is not done to earn our salvation, but rather it is an outward expression of an inward reality (Romans 6:2-4). We are declaring to the world that we belong to Jesus and that He is Lord of our life. Baptism is the first step of our obedience, but our obedience does not end there. As we journey in our walk with Jesus, we ought to seek to be obedient to Him in every element of our life.
Obedience to God is important because it is through our obedience that He is pleased with us. The Lord delights in obedience more so than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), and so the call for you and me today is to choose to walk in obedience when He calls.Though walking in obedience is difficult, the reality is when we choose to walk in obedience, we have harmony with the Father, we experience peace with Him, but most importantly we please Him.
Where are you today in your walk with God? Are you walking in disobedience to the Lord today? If so, choose to repent and follow Him in obedience. Let us choose to be people who seek to please the Lord, walking in obedience to what he calls us to do every single day of our life.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love for me. Help me to be pleasing to You today by choosing to walk in obedience to you and what you call me to do today. May the pattern of my life be to choose obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.