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by Gary Sims
01/07/04
Not For Sale
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The Gospels
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 – Baptism with a Purpose
Key Verses: (MSG)

16: “But John intervened: "I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.” – The crowds that had gathered were beginning to wonder if John was the Messiah.
17: “He's going to clean house--make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false He'll put out with the trash to be burned.” – Repentance and belief are the beginning steps to a productive new life of service for God.
21-22: “²¹After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As He was praying, the sky opened up ²²and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on Him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: ‘You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.’” – John’s baptism with water symbolizes the washing away of our sins; Jesus’ baptism in the Holy Spirit gives us the power needed to do God’s will.

Points to Contemplate:

Where do you seek answers to life? The gathered crowd at the River Jordan, impressed by John’s message of repentance, began to think of him as the Messiah. Have you experienced times where the dynamics of a person’s character has caused you to think of them as a prophet? Did you think they were especially blessed or gifted? Did the wonders of their personality over-whelm the message they were giving? Did they cause you to focus on them instead of on God? Do you see that as you seek answers to life that it is important to separate the message from the messenger?
In what ways has Christ made “a clean sweep of your life?” Have you been changed from the inside out? What parts of your life has He swept away with the trash? What chaff has He burned? Have you allowed Him to completely clean house or are you grasping onto areas of your life that should be thrown into the fire? Is everything in your life in proper perspective before God?
If Jesus was without sin, why would He need to be baptized by John? What sins did Jesus repent? Were they yours? In this simple act of baptism, did Jesus shoulder the sins of all mankind? Do these verses show you that as Jesus began His ministry that He did so fully understanding who we are and what sins we carry? Does this help you to know that Jesus is your personal Savior loving you, carrying your burdens, and dieing for your sins?
Where have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life? Did He descend upon you at your baptism, filling you with warmth, peace, and love? Has He always been in your heart slowly growing and guiding you towards a closer relationship with Christ? Has He inspired new understanding to scriptures that once lay dormant? Has He led you through the pathways of danger and sin, bringing you out into the light of God’s love when you were unable to find your own way? Has He kept you safe? Has He tested and convicted you in times when you may not have been paying attention? Has He strengthened you? Have you felt His peace in your heart?

Promises of the Gospel:

As we seek God we are brought face-to-face with our own sins, failures, and weaknesses. We stand at the river’s edge wondering if the waters will wash us clean of the filth that resides in our heart. We look for truth, guidance, but mostly, salvation in the voices and messages of any prophet that comes our way. We seek truth in song lyrics. We look for answers surfing the channels with our remote. “Talking Heads” on television give us guidance and inspiration on how we should live our lives. We grasp and we cling, yet we come up empty-handed. And then Jesus arrives, walking through the throng and out into the waters. We watch Him as He picks up the baggage that we had carried to the water’s edge. He accepts these burdens and we are free. Our load is now light. As we lift our heads to the brightness of a new day, we are suddenly filled with a vision of truth. There is no doubt. We do not need to verify or confirm. The Spirit of God bursts into our hearts and we are filled with His love. Wisdom flows forth. Understanding and comprehension abounds. We are changed. We are standing there looking at the same world yet through different eyes. We are called and we respond. We leave this place, walking from the river’s edge into pathways of ministry in which we are being led. And we sing Hallelujah!

FUMC Devotionals

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