Luke 20.1-26-"Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"
Genesis 35-36-Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.
Psalm 27-One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
1 Corinthians 13.1-13-But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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Cascade dish washing detergent. A green box with water in abundance, cleaning and renewing dishes. Was this the baptism of John? Cleaning and renewing us from sin. Repentance then the cleaning. Turning from sin then the cleaning. The abundance of water. But this question of Jesus was to make the religious leaders think about what their own question of Jesus' authority. They couldn't deny in front of the people John, for all the people took him to be a prophet. If they said his baptism was from heaven they would be endorsing Jesus ministry. When we try to make decisions with our sinful nature in mind we will stumble. But if we make decisions based on God's leading we will be empowered to take a stand. A stand in which God will provide the cascade of blessings and gifts we will need to hold fast in faith, hope and love. A stand that will ultimately reflect the Love of God in Christ Jesus. This Love is the greatest of all qualities of action. Action in Love. Just like Jesus stand against my sin, it was a action in Love. God told Jacob to move several times. God blessed Jacob in Love. Blessed Jacob when he took a stand in faith, hope, and love. Blessed Jacob also with a change of name from Jacob to Israel. From "Heel grabber" or "deceiver" to "he struggles with God." Take a stand, struggle, don't be like the religious leaders in Jesus question. Struggle with the question with God and know that in all struggle, God will be with you. God will be with you in struggle, in faith, hope, and love. But he will be with you in the greatest of these which is Love. The Love that is and is in Jesus and in you. Struggle in faith, hope, and love. Then the Love of God will cascade in and through your entire being. Love! In that struggle, in that Love, I will dwell in the house of the Lord, meditate on Him and see the beauty of Love in Jesus. Beauty of Love to stand me on a firm Rock of salvation in Jesus. Thanks be to God!
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Lord, I'm struggling. Let's play! You wanna wrestle? ---Amen
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