May 4

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?…”

When I was growing up, to escape the heat of the Texas summer, our family packed up and moved to a cabin in the high mountains of Colorado. The cabin had no running water until I was an adult. When I was old enough, I shared the task of hand-carrying water in several five- gallon jugs about 100 feet uphill to the cabin with my two older brothers. The thin mountain air would always make my lungs burn. I did not choose this task, and I am sure I protested at least once or twice. But, deep down, I had no doubt that helping to carry the water was my responsibility. And the reward of having fresh mountain spring water to drink always made it worthwhile. John didn’t want to baptize Jesus, not feeling worthy to even untie His sandal. Imagine the reward he experienced afterwards, in helping to “fulfill all righteousness”!

GOD OF THE DEPTHS, THANK YOU FOR FILLING US WITH YOUR SPIRIT, THAT WE MAY RECOGNIZE YOUR MOVEMENTS, EVEN WITHIN THE SMALLNESS OF OURSELVES. GOD OF THE RUNNING WATERS, THANK YOU FOR GUIDING YOUR PEOPLE ON PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, EVEN IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. GOD OF THE LIVING WATERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR SON TO US, TO WASH EVIL FROM US, AND DRAW US EVER CLOSER TO YOU. AMEN.

-Shared by Ladd Daniel