May 16

Then Heaven Opened

But John tried to stop him saying, “Why do you come to be baptized? I need to be baptized by you!” Jesus answered, “Let it be this way for now. We should do all things that are God’s will.” So John agreed to baptize Jesus.

Matthew 3:14-15 (NCV)


… let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Romans 12:2-3 (NLT)


As Christians, our call is to do one thing: the will of God. Funny thing is, we don’t always understand what that is. A good way to determine God’s will is to get out of our mind and into His. By asking questions, by digging deeper, and by listening, we begin to understand what He wants.

Many times, as in the case of John the Baptist, it will blow our minds, and we will have a hard time with it. I can’t do that! I’m not that important. I’m not that gifted. I don’t have what it takes to do that! But you and I need to learn the lesson: a humble malleable heart will listen … and … do the great things God calls it to.

This kind of heart will respond as Jesus did—submitting, doing whatever needs to be done, no matter how difficult or how low it may seem. Remember how the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus carefully washed the feet of His 12 disciples—including one traitor? Jesus went out of His way to do the Father’s will—in this case in serving and in teaching His closest followers.

Interesting. In our passage, both John the Baptist and Jesus did the will of God. Both men participated in Jesus’ baptism … then heaven opened.

How about you? Are you doing His will? Listen and hear. God has a great plan … just for you!


Father, speak to our hearts. Transform us. Give us the desire to serve You completely. Open the heavens for us in order to glorify Yourself in our lives. Amen.