Tag: Matthew 3:16-17
Day 5–The Unity of Holy Trinity
Scripture reading for March 27: Matthew 3:16-17 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.”
John 5:19 “I and the Father are One.” John 17:11 “Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One.”
It is extremely rare to find true biblical unity among families, marriages, clubs, organizations, or people groups. There is always a ‘fly in the ointment’ that causes division or strife. Even the best of marriages have occasional disruptions of the unity through unkind words, attitudes or violations of personhood. Our nation is certainly divided by political issues, racial issues, and cultural differences and even religious doctrines. It is hard to find an example of what unity is to be like.
God, Himself, has given us a model of unity in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. These three form a tight-knit ‘Community of Unity’ for us to learn from. God the Father is supreme in this community. His Word is the Truth and carries eternal value and authority. Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son, is God manifest in human flesh. Jesus came to reveal the Father. He only spoke what the Father had said and did what the Father did. He fully submitted to Father’s Word and will. The Holy Spirit, the Father’s Gift, was given by the Father to redeemed man. The Spirit is a ‘Helper’ and ‘Comforter’ Who reveals the Father’s Word and ways to us. These three are bound together by Love because God is Love!
When we consider how to maintain unity in our department or group of responders, it is good to start with these basic truths. God our Father and His Son Jesus are one in love, purpose, and power. They have prayed that we enter into Their absolute unity and made a way by sending the Holy Spirit. As we invite God’s Spirit to lead us, He reveals the path of peace and the anointing of unity.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your perfect unity demonstrated in the Holy Trinity. I surrender to Your Son’s prayer that I be one with Father and Son. Bless our family and department with Your unity. Amen.
A dire warning and a prophetic promise!
Scripture reading for July 1st: Matthew 3
Key Scriptures: Matthew 3:11-12 “”I baptize you with water for repentance, but He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.””
John the Baptist, was Jesus’ cousin and was called by God to be the prophetic forerunner of the Messiah. He lived in the desert and dressed in prophet’s garb. He called all the Jews to repentance and was noted as the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.'” He was baptizing in the Jordan River all who responded to his message of repentance and preparation for the Messiah. But John never claimed to be anything but a ‘voice’ crying in the wilderness. He pointed everyone to the One that was to come, the Messiah. This Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. This Messiah would also come in judgment and reward towards His people. He would come to separate the wheat and the chaff to their eternal destinies. The ‘axe’ was laid to the roots of the trees that produced no fruit of repentance.
Matthew 3:10 “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for preparing the way for me and all who will hear Your Word and repent. Thank You for Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, my Savior Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. Fill me again with the Holy Spirit and the fire of Your passion and love for the lost and hurting. May I proclaim Your Word boldly and clearly in a manner pleasing to You as Your Son.
Matthew 3:16-17 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a Voice from heaven said, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.””
The Holy Trinity
Scripture reading for January 3rd: Matthew 3, Psalm 3, Proverbs 3 (Reading through the New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs one chapter a day, five days a week in 2019–join the trek!)
Key Scriptures: Matthew 3:16-17 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold a Voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
The story jumps from Jesus’ birth and early years to His baptism at the age of thirty by John the Baptist. John testified that Jesus’ ministry would come after his ministry and Jesus would baptize with the “Holy Spirit and fire.” Jesus then came to John to be baptized in order to identify with us and to “fulfill all righteousness.” The Holy Spirit descended on Him and the Father testified to Christ’s Sonship and pleasing obedience.
Faith’s confession: I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the three that are One. (Action: I follow Jesus in water baptism and seek Him for baptism in the Holy Spirit.)
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”