A New Challenge

In Sunday School this year we are studying the New Testament.  Paula Beatty, our teacher, challenged us today to read the New Testament in 100 days and then continue studying it in more depth throughout the rest of the year.

Today's reading is Matthew 1-3.  It discussed the birth of Jesus, the visitation of the Wise Men, the prompting of the Spirit to Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to avoid his being killed at the hand of Herod, and then moves to the ministry of John the Baptist.

I am especially touched by verses 13-17 of chapter 3,

13 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.


14  "But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?


15  "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.


16  "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17  "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

John the Baptist was humble, yet obedient.  Jesus was without sin, yet went to be baptized "to fulfil all righteousness" -- to be obedient and to set an example for us.  When this was complete, the heavens truly rejoiced!
 
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Here are a couple other Scripture verses that touched me today...
 
"And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land"  -- Ezekiel 37:21
 
Another witness of the coming gathering of Israel.


"And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants."  -- Alma 35:9


Even in the face of criticism and threats, the people of Ammon administered to the outcasts from another territory and freely gave to meet their needs.