S)"21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.'"
Luke 3:21-22 (NASB)
O) This marks the beginning of Jesus' ministry. He hadn't healed anyone yet. He hadn't fed anyone yet. He hadn't raised anyone from the dead. He hadn't driven the Pharisees out of the temple, or given any crowd gathering sermons yet. But here we see the Father declare that He is well-pleased with Jesus. The only reasons He has, are because Jesus is free of sin and because God is the Father. Jesus didn't earn God's approval. He had it simply because of lineage and because of purity.
A) So, as a lower-case son of God, what does this mean to me? The first thing I need to do is remember that I am God's son. This adoption happened the moment I accepted Jesus Christ and His Way. At that same moment of absurdly beautiful grace, I was also made righteous before the Father. And so, walking in repentence, I am constantly being re-made as righteous and a son. I could never earn God's approval; If Jesus couldn't, what hope did I have? But, like Jesus, I am given the approval of the Father, through the grace I have in Jesus. Besides, if I could somehow earn God's approval, that would mean He would be endebted to me, which is just foolish to consider.
P) Father, forgive me of my sins, especially the when I am trying to earn Your approval. I am motivated by the compassionate grace You've already given me. Don't let satan try to convince me that I still need to impress You. Holy Spirit, continue to speak the will of the Father to me, so I can be obedient in what He has for me to do. But, Lord, let me do it out of gratitude for Your gracious approval, not in seeking Your "obligated approval." In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
P) Father, forgive me of my sins, especially the when I am trying to earn Your approval. I am motivated by the compassionate grace You've already given me. Don't let satan try to convince me that I still need to impress You. Holy Spirit, continue to speak the will of the Father to me, so I can be obedient in what He has for me to do. But, Lord, let me do it out of gratitude for Your gracious approval, not in seeking Your "obligated approval." In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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