And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16, 17.
As Jesus asked for baptism, John drew back, exclaiming, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” With firm yet gentle authority, Jesus answered, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Matthew 3:14, 15. And John, yielding, led the Saviour down into the Jordan, and buried Him beneath the water. “And straightway coming up out of the water,” Jesus “saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. Mark 1:10…. The solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17….
The word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan … embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. “He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6. The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased….
Our Redeemer has opened the way so that the most sinful, the most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father. All may have a home in the mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare.
The Faith I Live By p. 144
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for the family of the lady who was killed when a mudslide hit their place. Especially pray for the husband who tried to rescue her but was unable to reach her in time. Connie
—-Prayer request for a friend of mine whose headed to ICU. Lloyd
—-Please pray for Brian. Esther, and children as they drive cross country starting tomorrow afternoon and Thursday to visit his family. Their car is having some troubles but is supposed to be fixed today. Pray that it is. Rose
—-please pray I get my unemployment benefits ASAP. I have been without any income for a month. Thanks Ann
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Dear Friends,
Before I retired, every day I would go on the “run” dropping off various paperwork and files and picking up other items. As our workload increased, carrying those heavy files became very difficult for me as we had much more than we had had before. Several people advised me to ask for a cart, so that I could do my work with ease. Finally, I got up the courage to ask for one, and our supervisor ordered the cart that we selected from the catalog.
When the cart arrived, however, we were surprised at how small the box was. When we opened it, we found that it was completely unassembled. As we looked at all of the parts, we wondered what to do. We knew that if we waited for the maintenance men to put it together, it could be awhile as they had many duties. I really wanted to use the cart that day.
Thankfully, several of the men in our department volunteered to assemble it. As they looked at all of the parts, they knew that the first thing that they needed to do was look for the assembly directions. Once those directions were found and followed exactly, those many pieces began to take the shape of a cart. Before long, it was completed and I could use it that very day.
Just as the manufacturer had included directions for assembling the cart, so our Great Creator has given us directions that lead us in the way that we should go. How important, then, it is for us to read and follow those directions. James urges us, ” be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:22-25 How vital it is for us to know what God’s Holy Word says. The Psalmist David tells us the secret of his walk with God. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” Psa 119:9-12
Jeremiah says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15:16 David adds, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Psa 119:15,16; 19:7-11 As we hide God’s Word in our hearts, we become changed into His image. Paul tells us, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18
May we be diligent to search the Scriptures for they testify of our Dear Saviour and His great love for us. (John 5:39) May we hide God’s Word in our heart, that we may draw ever nearer to Him. May we daily pray as did David, ” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psa 19:14
Rose
“This Is My Beloved Son”