January 11, 2026
In Matthew 3:16-17, after Jesus is baptized, heaven opens and God speaks directly over Him. The Spirit descends, and a voice declares that Jesus is God’s Son, loved and pleasing in His sight. This declaration comes before Jesus begins His public ministry, making clear that His identity as God’s Son is not earned through action but spoken over Him at the very beginning.
Devotional: Most of us grow up learning that love and approval are connected to effort. We are praised when we perform well, noticed when we succeed, and corrected when we fall short. Over time, that way of thinking becomes deeply ingrained. Without even realizing it, we begin to assume that love must be earned and that acceptance depends on getting things right.
That mindset often carries over into our faith. We may believe God loves us, yet still live as though we must prove ourselves worthy of that love. We try harder, do more, and carry quiet anxiety about whether we are doing enough. When we struggle or fail, we assume God must be disappointed.
Jesus’ baptism interrupts that story.
When Jesus comes up out of the water, God does not give Him a list of expectations. God does not outline the challenges ahead or warn Him about the cost of faithfulness. God speaks love and identity. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” These words are spoken before Jesus preaches a sermon, heals a sick body, or calls a disciple.
That timing matters. Jesus does not receive God’s love because of what He has done. He begins His ministry grounded in the assurance that He is already loved. His work flows from that truth, not toward it.
Our baptism reflects the same grace-filled pattern. In baptism, God names us as His children before we have our lives figured out. We are claimed before we understand faith fully. We are loved before we can offer anything in return. Our identity is not built on our performance, our consistency, or our spiritual strength. It rests on God’s promise.
Yet many of us live as though that promise is fragile. We question it when life gets messy. We doubt it when faith feels thin. We forget it when shame or regret speaks louder than grace. The voice at Jesus’ baptism reminds us that God’s love is steady and dependable. It does not rise and fall with our successes and failures.
This does not mean that discipleship is easy or optional. Jesus’ baptism leads Him into a demanding road. Loving obedience still matters. But obedience is no longer driven by fear or the need to earn approval. It is shaped by trust. It grows out of knowing we already belong.
When we live from the assurance that we are loved by God, our faith changes. We serve without needing recognition. We risk compassion without fear of failure. We can admit our weakness because our worth is not on the line. God’s love becomes the steady ground beneath our feet rather than a distant goal we are chasing.
Today, pause before thinking about what God may be calling you to do. Remember first who God says you are. You are God’s child. You are held in love. And nothing you face today can undo that truth.
Action: When self-doubt or pressure to perform shows up today, stop and remind yourself that God’s love for you comes first. Let your choices flow from that assurance rather than striving.
Prayer: Loving God, thank You for claiming us as Your children before we have done anything to earn it. Help us live from the security of Your love instead of trying to prove ourselves. When we forget, gently remind us who we are in You. We trust You with our lives and our faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thought for the Day: God speaks love before He calls us to act.
Before Jesus healed, taught, or walked the hard road of ministry, God spoke words of love over Him. Matthew 3 reminds us that faith does not begin with effort or achievement, but with identity. In baptism, God names us as His children before we have everything figured out. This devotional invites us to stop striving, release the pressure to perform, and live from the assurance that God’s love comes first.
