All Righteousness
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Matthew 3:15
Today, let’s begin with a question: Would you describe yourself as an obedient person? Specifically, obedient to God?
Sometimes it’s obedience in the little things that best reveals our level of spiritual maturity. If you want a good check of your spiritual condition, then just take a look at the details of your obedience.
Why was Jesus baptized? He certainly didn’t need to be. John the Baptist recognized this and actually tried to get Jesus to baptize him instead. But Jesus insisted. So why was Jesus baptized? He had no sins from which to repent. His relationship with God was evident enough. So why was Jesus baptized? Because it was right. Jesus called it “fulfilling all righteousness.” In other words, he wanted to leave no stone unturned in his effort to please his Father. He wanted to do everything that his Father required. Whether large (like dying on the cross) or small (like being baptized), Jesus desired absolute obedience.
I tend to look at obedience in the realm of the biggies. You know, biggies like the Ten Commandments and tithing ten percent or trying to honor God with my life. Those areas are most obvious and the easiest for me to measure my obedience in. But if I want to fulfill all righteousness, then I have to look at the smaller details of obedience as well. For instance, while I haven’t murdered anyone, neither have I prayed today for my enemies. While I haven’t stolen anything, neither have I served my neighbor. And while I’m up-to-date on my tithe, I haven’t asked my wife to forgive my most recent rude outburst. I need to look at the details. I need to be obedient in the small things.
And so do you. Because we don’t want to fulfill just 75% of what is right. We don’t want 80% or 90% or even 95%. We want to be obedient in all areas of righteousness. What is God nudging you toward that you’re currently hedging on? How trivial does it seem? Follow through on it. In doing so you will grow yourself spiritually and you will take yet another step toward fulfilling all that God intends: all righteousness.
