Doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do
Check out this passage of Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17. I love this story!
Picture this. Jesus--God in the flesh--who represents all that is good, complete and perfect--did not just come on the Earthly scene one day as a grown man and say, "Here I am! I am God; follow and worship me!"
No! He came as a babe, born through a mother just like all other humans. He submitted himself to the normal growth and development of a child, adolescent, teen, and adult!
He was sent to be the Savior of the world, yet we see Him following an orderly and patient step-by-step process of fulfilling God's plan for his life. He was a submissive son in the home, and he faithfully completed all the tasks and duties as a worker in the carpenter shop. He never "cut corners" nor did He ever skip a step in the process!
Notice in verse 14 that John is obviously startled at Jesus' request to be baptized and even tries to deter him. And why should he not? John perceived that he needed what Jesus had to offer rather than the other way around. Jesus assured him that it was the right thing to do. It was a part of the process!
Like Jesus, we have to remember (as Steven Furtick puts it) "Between the promise and the payoff is the process-and the process is the point." Finishing the race and getting the prize is our ultimate goal, but we should never try to cut corners to get their easier or quicker! We should faithfully complete all the steps; we should do the right thing because it's the right thing to do!
Picture this. Jesus--God in the flesh--who represents all that is good, complete and perfect--did not just come on the Earthly scene one day as a grown man and say, "Here I am! I am God; follow and worship me!"
No! He came as a babe, born through a mother just like all other humans. He submitted himself to the normal growth and development of a child, adolescent, teen, and adult!
He was sent to be the Savior of the world, yet we see Him following an orderly and patient step-by-step process of fulfilling God's plan for his life. He was a submissive son in the home, and he faithfully completed all the tasks and duties as a worker in the carpenter shop. He never "cut corners" nor did He ever skip a step in the process!
Notice in verse 14 that John is obviously startled at Jesus' request to be baptized and even tries to deter him. And why should he not? John perceived that he needed what Jesus had to offer rather than the other way around. Jesus assured him that it was the right thing to do. It was a part of the process!
Like Jesus, we have to remember (as Steven Furtick puts it) "Between the promise and the payoff is the process-and the process is the point." Finishing the race and getting the prize is our ultimate goal, but we should never try to cut corners to get their easier or quicker! We should faithfully complete all the steps; we should do the right thing because it's the right thing to do!
