QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
When were you proud of someone for what they did and what was your specific response to them and others about them?

Observations:
I asked myself who are all the CHARACTERS involved?
1. Jesus
2. John
3. Spirit
4. Voice

Observations:
I asked myself what happened as Jesus was coming up out of the water?
1. Jesus saw heaven being torn open.
2. Jesus saw the Spirit descending on Him like a Dove.
3. A voice came from heaven

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of each point?

Point 1: Jesus saw heaven being torn open.
That is so amazing that Jesus saw heaven being torn open because He was baptized in the Jordan by John. Heaven opened as Jesus identified with humanity when He was willing to be baptized. Coming up out of the water reminded me of baptism by immersion as opposed to baptism by sprinkling. If people want to be baptized, it would be awesome to be baptized as Jesus was baptized in the water. That is my preference! Not only that but something remarkable happened which is evident in Point 2.

Point 2:  ‘Jesus saw the Spirit descending on Him like a Dove!’

When the heaven was torn open and the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, I was reminded of Jesus as the Prince of Peace because dove is usually seen as a symbol of peace.  This is the first instance we see the Spirit descending on Jesus after Jesus was willing to be baptized. The crowds who were there witnessed it too as revealed in another Gospel. It did not end there which is evident by Point 3.

Point 3: A voice came from heaven.
I asked myself what was the content message of the voice and the significance of each point?

After the Spirit descended on Jesus, the voice said 3 things:

 I decided to look at these 3 statements:

Statement 1: You are my Son.

The voice is giving identity to Jesus for humans benefit. I believe even as Jesus began to relate with humanity, the voice made many in the crowd to realize Jesus has characteristics of divinity. All of the people there were probably Jews who were waiting and expecting a Messiah to deliver them from Rome from what they have been going through. Now Jesus comes up out of the water after being baptized and a voice says, 'You are my Son'.

This has to remind people of the prophesy again from the Book of Isaiah specifically Isaiah 9:6 which states, "For to us a child is born, to us a SON is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE." Jesus is referred to there as MIGHTY GOD and also EVERLASTING FATHER to reveal characteristics of His divinity even in His humanity as He walked the earth.

The voice does not stop there which is evident by point 2.

Statement 2: Whom I love.

This is so cool to know that the voice actually lets Jesus know that He is loved. It can be an awesome feeling when someone tells you that they love you. It gives a sense of belonging and worthiness. I believe the voice is speaking to the crowds already there including John, the Baptist to let them know that Jesus is the One they have been waiting for. Emphasis is placed on love after Jesus is baptized. The voice can be inferred to as God's voice who lets Jesus, His Son know that He is loved.

It does not end there which is evident by point 3.

Statement 3: With you I am well pleased.

Jesus is being praised by the voice for His actions. The voice is not just pleased but well pleased to emphasize the complete praise given to His Son. Jesus knows that and those around could have been informed about that too.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
God is pleased with Jesus for what Jesus decided to do and gets the praise of God in front of others. I need to do the same. I need to praise Jesus in front of others for all He has done for me. Thank you Jesus. I need to praise others in front of others for the good they do instead of keeping it to myself.

When people do right it is so important to praise them! A word of encouragement and praise goes a long way! This reminds me of public praise as opposed to private praise for doing right. Jesus was praised in front of the crowds gathered there. I need to do the same by praising those who do right not only privately but publicly for their actions.

Jesus wanting to be baptized by John the Baptist set an example for all of us to follow. It showed Jesus' humility and also surrender to the Father. Father God was so pleased with Jesus that God made it known to all that were there with the statement, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Jesus was praised publicly by the Father and I need to do the same. I need to praise Jesus publicly in front of others. For that to happen, I need to first acknowledge and believe that Jesus is all that the Bible claims He is.  Once I do that, it is not at all hard to praise the Lord because praise will automatically come out of my mouth.

When I think about what Jesus did for me on the cross of Calvary to save me, I am so touched and my heart goes out to praise. I am afraid of needles and seeing the sight of blood but Jesus took more than a needle for me by taking in nails pounded through his hands and feet so that the cleansing blood that flowed could wash away all my sin. Jesus died on the cross to redeem me from the bondage of sin and death. I who was lost to my own ways have been found by the Lord. I a born Hindu was saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ when He invited me to be His own and adopted me as His child. He did that by taking all my sin upon Himself, burying it in His death, and coming back to life on the 3rd day to save. Thank you Jesus.

I know just as the Spirit rested upon Jesus when He was baptized, the Spirit of the Living God will rest upon me to as I give my life over to Christ. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to do that when my mommy introduced me to Jesus and what Jesus did for me in all Eternity.

My shouts of praise publicly should always go out to Jesus for all He has done for me and will continue to do for me. When I was in sin separated from God having no way to reach the Father because "all the good that I do becomes filthy rags to the Lord", God provided a bridge for me through Jesus Christ that I can cross to Heaven as I yield my life over to the Lord and take what my Donor offered to me. His precious red antidote is the only antidote that can cleanse my body of its deadly virus known as sin. Everyday, I need to remember that Jesus paid the price for me with His blood to cleanse me of all my sin. Now because of what Jesus did for me on the cross of Calvary, I have entrance to the Father because when God looks at me now, He sees the cleansing blood of Jesus covering over me and His judgment will pass over me.

No matter what is happening around me I need to praise the Lord Jesus Christ for everything He has already done for me and will continue to do! Thank you Jesus.

I ask you now dear friend, why praise Jesus and others publicly in life?
God, the Father set the example of praising publicly others in life, specifically Jesus in the example I learned today. This is a model to follow whether it is our praise of Jesus publicly or others. But, I hope our praise of Jesus publicly never falters and we make that a priority. Until we really understand the magnitude of the price Jesus paid for us to redeem us, we will not be ready to praise Him always for what He has done for us. Even if nothing goes well in life for us, we have reason to praise Jesus  because of what Jesus did for us at the cross of Calvary. Jesus redeemed us from being a prisoner to Satan and to the bondage of sin and death.

The believers who were persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ understood that so even through their persecution, they would continue to praise and rejoice in the Lord. Their focus was on Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for them and His redemption in their lives.

We need to always think about how Jesus redeemed us and saved us to give us Eternal Life no matter what is happening around us. We can do that when we hold on to the Word of God and meditate on His Word day and night instead of focusing on the direct problems at hand.

I belong to Jesus the Creator of the Universe. He has chosen me to be His very own, precious and special in His sight. I need the help of God's Word and the Spirit of the Living God to praise the Lord daily.  Friend, you and I can do that as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

One way you can do that is by letting others know what an awesome God you serve. Jesus in His humanity also has the qualities and characteristics of His Divinity which are elaborated more in the Gospel of John.

You can praise Jesus privately or publicly! You can praise Jesus near your friends, near your co-workers, at a worship service, etc.  When Jesus came to relate to humanity, He did it because of His love for you. Yes, friend He loves you so much and you are never out of His love and never out of His reach. He loves you as you are and reaches out to you.

I don't know what you are going through but Jesus does. One thing I know is it may not have been easy for Jesus to have trekked three days so He could be baptized in the Jordan, yet He did it. He overcame that obstacle to fulfill His obedience to the Father. Whatever you are facing Jesus knows about it. Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Whether you are facing issues with classes, relationships, family,  job, work, athletics, etc, Jesus wants to be there for you. Yes, He does! Sometimes it could be hard to move ahead and you may even feel so lonely because of the situation you may be in and Jesus knows that pain and He feels your pain. Yes, He does. Come as you are to Jesus for He will carry you.

I don't want you to think that Jesus should only be praised when things go well. No, friend, Jesus deserves our praise all the time because of who He is and what He has already done for us. Friend, I remember when we were all going to the funeral of my dad, my mom would continue to read aloud Psalms as she asked each of us which Psalm we would like to hear. Even at the Gate of Heaven cemetery in Maryland, we heard praises to the Lord Jesus being read from the Psalms by our mom.

Praise the Lord Jesus for life given to us by Him! Never take life lightly. So no matter what we go through and how hard life is, let us rest in the Lord Jesus Christ and give Him our praise. Also, let us remember to praise others who we are proud of for doing the right thing without assuming they know we are proud of them.

Praise Him
(c) copyright 2010, BY Ramesh C. Reddy

Past looks dim!
Praise Him!
Present looks dim!
Praise Him!
Future looks dim!
Praise Him!

 Hands lifted above!
We receive Your love!
 Hands lifted to your face!
We receive Your grace!
Jesus, we praise!
Our hands raise!
To Heaven we gaze!

Past looks dim!
Praise Him!
Present looks dim!
Praise Him!
Future looks dim!
Praise Him!

Amen!

Jesus waits for you! Yes, He does friend! Now is the time. Don't wait but make your life a worshipful sacrifice to the Lord. Your spiritual act of worship can be the way you live your life for the Lord. There are many ways to worship the Lord and it does not always have to be singing. May you experience the love of Jesus in your life! Amen!

The purpose of today's devotional was for me to understand the importance of praising the Lord Jesus publicly before others for all he has done for me.

"Praising Redeemer Always Inspires Souls Everywhere!" (P.R.A.I.S.E)/"Why P.R.A.I.S.E others publicly in life?"

Prayer:
Jesus thank you so much for what you have helped me to learn. I learned Jesus that when you came up out of the water, you were given praise by Father God. You were also told that you were loved and Father God was well pleased with you. I was excited to read that. Also, to know the Spirit descended on you like a dove. Wow, Lord! I love you Jesus and give my praise to you for all you have done in my life and will continue to do. Lord, you deserve our praise no matter how our life is and help us to do that. Help us to remember those that have gone before us who have praised you no matter what they were faced with Lord from Horatio who wrote the wonderful Hymn, 'It is well with my soul' when he lost most of his family in a terrible storm at sea to all the others who have lifted their praises to you even in persecution and continue to do so. Let our lives be a sacrificial praise to you Jesus.  Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you that we could praise you even with a simple song as above. I love you Jesus and need you. Thank you Jesus that we are never out of your love, never out of your reach. You are there for us always and we yield our lives to you. Help us to praise you daily in our lives. Thank you so much Jesus. Forgive ours sins and help us please. We thank you for your help Oh Lord. We trust in you for guidance. Thank you for being there for us and we give our lives to thee. In Your Name We Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!