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Hello again. It's been a long time, but my schedule has been opened. Sadly, I also had no ideas, but it was brought to my remembrance a series that I wanted to do. Here is the first post about the sayings of Jesus. I will probably focus on this for the time being. Hopefully, I will be able to do at least one post a week.
The Sayings of Jesus series will be a reflection of thoughts concerning what Christ said. I did this years ago in my journal. I didn't make it far, and honestly, I'm not sure I did it right. I started with the Beatitudes, but that was wrong. Here goes.
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
Matthew 3:15 NKJV
Jesus spoke these words to convince John the Baptist to baptize him. John was preaching to all who would hear that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus appeared before him, and he felt so unworthy to baptize him.
Jesus had other plans. John the Baptist was doing his part, and it was ordained that he would baptize Jesus. Did Jesus need to be baptized? He was Jesus. But He did so because it would fulfill righteousness.
I have been told that baptism is the outward appearance of showing the world you have given your life to Christ, well God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. And a lot of people were baptized as a kid. But many get baptized again as an adult, once they really know what it is about.
Another thought brings up a memory of a past bible study session. While attending a church bible study, the teacher said Christ had to fulfill many promises written of him in the Old Testament. I don't recall the number, but it was in the thousands. Christ fulfilled every one. He may have had momentary lapses during his prayer times, and especially at Gethsemane, but he fulfilled each one.
For some of us, it may be a struggle to go to church on Sunday. It may be a struggle to go to church on time. We may struggle with prayer. We may struggle with reading the Bible. We may struggle with just plain 'ole being obedient to God when it concerns His kingdom.
But we have a destiny. It may not be just like Christ's, but it is as important to the advancement of God's kingdom. If you feel like John the Baptist, and feel unworthy to do Christ's bidding, stop it. If the task is in your hand, then complete it. Do what God asks of you. Be obedient.
What is your take on baptism? If you were baptized as a child, do you think it is necessary to be baptized as an adult?
