Matthew 3:13 -15 - Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
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.(NKJ)
Have you ever stopped to consider the age at which Jesus began His ministry? Have you ever pondered how Jesus grew up, seeing the hurt and suffering of those around Him, and not being able to do anything? Have you ever thought what went through His mind as He witnessed the abuse by the Pharisees and Saducess in the church, knowing in His heart how wrong the system was, how the flock was not being cared for properly, and seeing their pain and suffering?
I was thinking about this the other day, and it occurred to me that Jesus did not begin His ministry on the earth until His Father in Heaven said it was time. I was also thinking of all the people around Jesus at the time of His growing up. I'm sure He saw sickness and disease. I'm sure he witnessed pain and suffering from His neighbors. I am sure that He even attended a few funerals growing up, all this time knowing who He was, and yet not released by the Father to begin His work. Can you imagine what went through His heart witnessing all of this, the pain He must have felt and Him thinking, "I can fix this?"
We are very much like that. There is a preparation and a training that has to be done in our hearts and in our lives before our release can come. I'm sure that Jesus died a few deaths during those years, as He witnessed events taking place around Him, and yet He was not yet released to do the work that He was called to do.
There are things that we need to live out before our ministry can be effective and anointed, just as Jesus did. There may be a few deaths that we need to go through ourselves to be more effective in our work for our Lord and Savior. I wonder, if Jesus began His ministry before His time, what would have happened if he lasted longer on this earth? But know that God has a perfect plan and a perfect timing for each and every one of us. God knows when our ministry will begin, and you need to know that it will be at the perfect time.
Jesus began His ministry when He was ready and God released Him. If you are desiring to go into the work of the Lord, and you find yourself ready to run but nothing is opening up your way, then rest, for your time will come. There will be a time of preparation, a time of training, and as John baptized Jesus, so your time of release will come. Rest in Him, because that desire that you have came from the Father of Lights, and He will fulfill that desire and that calling that He has placed on you. Let the Father continue the work in you, let Him prepare you and train you, and before you know it, your baptism will come.
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Amen Yvette! Just what I needed to hear today too! A door seemed to be opening for my writing, only to close 3 days later...but I have been told "Don`t give up"! Thank you for sharing this timely word with us!
