Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

A couple of days ago my youngest son turned thirty, which reminded of when Jesus began His public ministry.

Today’s scripture, Luke 3:21-23 (NLT) shared…
[21] One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” [23] Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli.

Consider…
There are Christian holidays that commemorate two signature moments in Jesus’ life, Christmas for His birth and Easter for His crucification and resurrection.

But Jesus didn’t go straight from the manger to the empty tomb, as we know He grew into a boy who became a man.

Luke 2:52 (NLT) affirms…
[52] Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Today’s scripture follows that simple but important statement. Because Jesus lived after He was born and before He died. That too is important because Hebrews 4:14-15 (NLT) shares…
[14] So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Jesus’ birth was provided hope to a dying world, and His death provided life to a dead people, but it’s His life as a man that showed us how to live, and love.

In fact Jesus said in John 15:10-12 (NLT)…
[10] When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. [11] I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! [12] This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

And the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to exhort in Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)…
[5] You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

You see Jesus taught how live in obedience to God the Father. We learned by the way that ‘living in obedience’ is a key aspect of worship.

Indeed Jesus’ life epitomized Paul’s directive in Romans 12:1 (NLT)…
[1] And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Jesus lived the example of a submitted life. He emphasized that in John 6:38 (NLT)…
[38] For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

That’s the same expectation God has for all of His children. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT) tells us to…
[1] Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [2] Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Notice we are told to follow the example of Christ. Speaking of following Jesus’ example, Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT) exhorts us…
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

These verses tell us to…

• Rid ourselves of sin impediments
• Run the Christian race with endurance
• Rely on Jesus’ example for inspiration

It’s not a coincidence that my baby boy just turned thirty this year, and the Holy Spirit Direct Messaged me this post regarding Jesus the man, whose public ministry began at the same age.

The Holy Spirit is telling me to share the Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT) synoptic perspective of Jesus’ baptism…
[13] Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. [14] But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” [15] But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. [16] After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

He wanted me to read this perspective too in order to illustrate the fact that Jesus’ public confirmation as God’s Son came after His obedience to the Father.

The Holy Spirit continues to emphasize that Jesus’ example is that He continually operated in obedience.

That reminds me of Jesus’ ultimate example of loving obedience expressed in His Honest, Open and Transparent (H.O.T.) Never The Less prayer in Luke 22:42-43 (NLT)…
[42] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” [43] Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

It occurs to me that God continually and tangibly responded to Jesus’ obedience.

That’s a point we should pay attention to. If you want to experience the presence of God in your life in a tangible way, OBEY!

I remind you that Jesus said in John 15:10 (NLT)…
[10] When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

If you want to live in and feel God’s love, obey His commands, which are summed up in the one to love as Jesus loved.

I like the way 1 John 4:15-17 (NLT) reiterates God affirms us following Jesus’ loving example…
[15] All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. [16] We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. [17] And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Notice the passage ended with we can have confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

And Jesus tells us exactly how He lived one chapter earlier in 1 John 3:16 (NLT)…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Right about now by lifelong friend Ken is saying ‘we get it’, love, love, love. My response is yes, that is correct.

You see Jesus living in obedience was living a life of love.

As I am writing this I hear the Commodore’s hit song lyrics…

Father
Help your children
And don’t let them fall
By the side of the road
Mmm…mmm…

And teach them
To love one another
And heaven might find
A place
In their hearts

‘Cause Jesus is love
He won’t let you down
And I know He’s mine forever
Oh, in my heart

Just now I also heard Lloyd Nicks singing…

Call this a prayer
Call this a confession
Truth is I need to
Learn a lesson
What it means to really
Lay my life down

Quick to judge
Quick to be defensive
Walls up, I’m easily offended
But I know I really need
A heart change

I just wanna love like Jesus
The kinda love that
Don’t need a reason
No strings attached
No questions asked
You give it all
And you’re never gonna take it back
It’s not for me to say who’s worthy
Everybody needs his grace and mercy
‘Cause I just wanna love like
Love like
Love like Jesus

Here’s my pride
I’m tired of being selfish
No more starting wars
With someone different
‘Cause Jesus never had conditions
I wanna learn how to give
What I’ve been given

I just wanna love like Jesus
The kinda love that
Don’t need a reason
No strings attached
No questions asked
You give it all
And you’re never gonna take it back
It’s not for me to say who’s worthy
Everybody needs his grace and mercy
‘Cause I just wanna love like
Love like
Love like Jesus

Your kingdom here, not mine
So let it flow deep and wide

As I scanned through those lyrics, that should be our testimony, i noticed something else Jesus emphasized in His life of obedience. He taught it to us in teaching us how to pray. He taught in Matthew 6:9-10 (NLT)…
[9] Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Don’t miss the lessons, we must…

• Recognize we’re our Heavenly Father’s children
• Keep His name Holy, meaning sacred and set apart
• Desire His Kingdom rule in our lives
• Obey His Heavenly will here on earth

…before we ask for anything we must make God our priority above everything.

That’s why at the end of this same chapter Jesus says, as He lived, in Matthew 6:33 (NLT)…
[33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Again the Holy Spirit confirms, when we prioritize pleasing God by living obediently, He will take care of all we need.

That reminds me of one of the most misquoted scriptures, which is actually an illustration of Jesus’ point. The contextually misquoted Philippians 4:19 (NLT) says…
[19] And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Yet notice, Paul wrote this in response to Philippians 4:15-18 (NLT)…
[15] As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. [16] Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. [17] I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. [18] At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Accordingly, the proper context is that as we give to others, God will provide for us.

In fact Jesus emphasized in Luke 6:38 (NKJV)…
[38] Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

That takes me back to the verses following Jesus’ exhortation to sacrificially love like Him. 1 John 3:17-19 (NLT) explain…
[17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. [19] Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

While reading that I hear Zach Williams singing…

Oh, I have days I lose the fight
Try my best but just don’t get it right
Where I talk a talk that I don’t walk
And miss the moments right before my eyes

Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped
Somebody with a hand that I could have held
When I just can’t see past myself
Lord, help me be

A little more like mercy, a little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience, a little more like peace
A little more like Jesus, a little less like me

Which brings me to the final observation about Jesus operating in obedience. Romans 5:6-8 (NLT) points out…
[6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Notice…

• We were helpless
• Christ came and died
• He died for sinners still steeped in sin

The second bullet point hearkened me back to Jesus speaking in John 10:17-18 (NLT)…
[17] “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. [18] No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

Although Jesus knew who He was and the authority that He possessed, He willingly obeyed His Father by becoming the sacrificial lamb for our sin.

Which brings me full circle to my often cited Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)…
[5] You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Jesus wasn’t just a man, He was the Man who showed us to humble ourselves in obedience to God. Let’s operate accordingly.

It’s appropriate that we appreciate and celebrate sweet little baby Jesus and our crucified and risen Savior, but as today’s song lyrics ask…

Do you know The Man? 🤷🏾‍♂️

If you do, act like Him! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Today’s song is…
Stranger https://youtu.be/220crVPW2zA?si=8BrvsVsBwl_s3qyA

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)