Our scripture this week is Matthew 3:13-17.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17
This passage tells us that Jesus obeyed God by going to be baptized in the Jordan River. It tells us that God was “well pleased” with Him because of His obedience. It isn’t recorded that anyone else was aware of the voice from heaven or the Spirit descending, but Jesus certainly noticed.
Have you ever done something good and no one else knew about it? Did it make you feel like you missed out because no one said “Good job!” or were you happy just knowing you had done the right thing? We are called to obey God and share His love, not to receive any praise from anyone but simply out of our love for Him.
Jesus didn’t go because He expected adulation, but to prove His obedience to God, and to show us that the way to salvation is through that obedience. He gave us the example of doing God’s will for the sake of our relationship with Him alone, not any recognition from the world. We are called to live for God’s approval, and what the world thinks of us will not matter in eternity.
Loving Lord, we put too much emphasis on being noticed in our world. Help us to see that Your attention and love for us is all that really matters. Amen.