Application:
Children can please God by obeying their parents and the Bible.
Text:
Matthew 3:1-17.
Luke 3:1-21.
Repent and be Baptised!
John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." He was telling the people that
they should turn away from their sin and wrong doings, and start to obey
God's commands.
John wore clothes made out of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around
his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. How would you like to live
on crunchy insects even if they were sweetened with honey?
What Shall We Do?
People came to him from Jerusalem and all over Judea confessing their sins,
and were baptised by him in the Jordan River. "What shall we do?" the
people asked him, and he answered, "Whoever has two coats, let him give one
to him who has none, and if you have meat, then give some to those who are
hungry.
The tax-collectors came to be baptised and asked, "Master, what shall we do?"
John answered, "Collect only what taxes the Government instructs you
to." And then some soldiers asked, "And what shall we do?" John
answered them, "Don't use violence on any man, nor accuse anybody falsely,
and be content with your wages!"
The people wondered in their hearts whether John was the Christ or not.
John therefore said to them, "I indeed baptise you with water, but One
mightier than I is coming, whose shoes I am not worthy to undo. He
shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!
Jesus is Baptised:
Now Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry and
came from Galilee to the River Jordan to be baptised by John. John
tried to stop Him, saying, "I need to be baptised by You." But Jesus
replied, "Let it be so for now, for we must do everything God tells us to
do."
John then baptised Jesus and as He came out of the water, John saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Jesus. And a
voice from Heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, with Him I am well
pleased."
Pleasing God:
God was well pleased with Jesus because He always obeyed God and never sinned.
Children can also please God by obeying their parents and doing what
the Bible says. Praying and reading your Bible every day will let the
Holy Spirit guide you and show you the right way.
He will also strengthen and change your life so that you will want to serve
and please God in all you do and say. What will be your answer to the
question, "Master, what shall I do?"
I hope your answer is, "I'm going to obey my parents and Jesus in all I do
and say and be kind to other people!"
God bless.