Thank You for another day, Father. I most certainly was not perfect today but feeling Your presence alongside me helped me to make many right choices. I am grateful that You continue to work with me.

Matthew 3:13-17 (<<click the green)

I think we’ve all struggled with feeling that we weren’t qualified to shoulder some responsibility that was set before us in our past. Many times we’ve taken up the task at hand and maybe some of have lingering doubts that we made the right decision in not doing so.

In today’s passage, we find John diligently proclaiming the coming of the long-expected Messiah. The Old Testament “prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”(Matthew 3:3)

John had cleared the way and here came Jesus – the Messiah!

I’m sure John was grateful that he had obeyed God’s calling on his life – it was a big task. It was a hard task. But with God’s help, he had done the right thing and doing it with the best of his ability.

Then Jesus asked John to baptize him.

“What?! Wait a minute! I am the one who needs to be baptized by you…” But when Jesus replied, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires”, John readily complied.

It was a big request, but John was obedient.

Lord, sometimes You call us to things that we think are beyond what we are capable of…but You know best. You do not call us to fail but to succeed. And quite often we are not the ones to define those terms. Lord, You alone can see all the interworkings of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. May we obey. May we have confidence in You. May we be diligent. I can do whatever You call me to do.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Oct 2nd, Mon, 7:44 pm