1.3.10 "I Must Do All that is Right"

"I Must Do All that is Right"

Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19

John the Baptist is quite a character. He's out in the wilderness eating locusts, wearing animal skin (which is WAY out of fashion!), and he begins to baptize people. His demeanor is that which would probably offend many of us, but nonetheless, people are turning to God.

As quirky as he is, he knows his place in the kingdom. "With water I baptize those who repent of their sins; but someone else is coming, far greater than I am, so great that I am not worthy to carry his shoes! He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matt. 3:11)

Then Jesus shows up. He wants to be baptized. Now think about this. We have the whole counsel of scripture to consider here. What was John's message? "Repent and be baptized..." Jesus showed up to be baptized. What was he to repent of? John saw this. He said, "This isn't proper, I am the one who needs to be baptized by you." (3:14)

That makes sense to me. John is very perceptive & understanding. He's thinking in "kingdom" terms. But listen to what Jesus says. "But Jesus said, 'Please do it, for I must do all that is right.' So then John baptized him." (3:15)

Did you catch that? "I must do all that is right." The question that follows in my mind is "Why?" Why must Jesus do all that is right? It would be easy for him to be justified to not be baptized. Everyone would understand. He's the Son of God!

Look into the next chapter, Matthew 4. The Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness. He's there for forty days. He gets hungry. Satan tempts him to turn stone to bread. "It will prove you are the Son of God." That makes sense, too. The flesh is in great need. Why not meet the need? I'm sure everyone would understand. Everyone would sympathize.

"But Jesus told him, 'No! For the scriptures tell us that bread won't feed men's souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need.'"

Interesting answer: Obedience to EVERY WORD OF GOD is what we need. Wow. He's "toeing the line" here. Why?

As you've read, this testing continues.

The thought for the day is why did Jesus say he "must do all that is right"?

The answer is: Because he knew what was at stake. He knew his mission. He knew he was to be the spotless sacrifice. He knew his responsibility. He knew how important it is to be in right relationship with God.

So, what about us? Where do we fit in when it comes to doing "all that is right"? How seriously do we take it?

To Live the DREAM we must live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. The principle of worship is obedience. "The Scriptures say,'Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.'" (Matt. 4:10) How intensely do we pursue this?

The more we value and understand the big picture of right relationship with the Lord, the more intensely we will guard it, pursue it, and defend it.

Why do you keep certain kinds of music out of your home? Why do you keep from watching certain things? What keeps you from cheating on the job or in school? Why do you keep from doing some of the things your flesh so greatly desires?

The answer is: because you know what is at stake. You know your mission. You know how important your relationship with the Lord is. By not understanding how valuable obedience is, we compromise it, and trade it. Remember Esau and the bowl of soup? He traded the blessing of generations because he was hungry.

Jesus knew that we needed an example. We needed to see what it takes to be in right relationship with the Lord. If I was forty days hungry and had the power to turn a stone into bread... I don't know.... I can hardly stay out of McD's drive-thru as it is. But Jesus gives us the pattern. He shows us the way. The answer is in the Word.

"I must do all that is right"



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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