I’ve got the privilege of baptizing a couple of folks right after church this Sunday. We usually do them in our pool next to the Chapel but with the drop in temperature we have a metal portable baptismal (ok…it’s a horse trough) that we put out on our lawn area because we can tap into some warm water for the event. I love doing
this because the commitment that these people have made is represented in this act. As I thought about Sunday, I remembered a baptism that an elder and I did up at the YMCA Camp at Lake Sequoia about this time of year decades ago. It was an important commitment, and the camp had been a special place for all who were getting baptized. As it happened, the Fresno State University Choral Choir was having a retreat next to us and someone talked them into joining us and singing for our little service! It was great!! My buddy and I did the baptisms and one of the things I like to do is to ask if there is anyone else who would like to get baptized on this day. No one responded so the two of us when to a restroom to change out of our wet and cold jeans. We were putting on our warm, dry clothes with all our wet ones on the floor when one of the young men came running in and said, “We have one more!” I asked what in the world was he talking about and he said that one of the ladies with us had decided she really wanted to be baptized today, here…right now! My friend and I looked at our wet clothes and stripped down and put back on wet jeans and shirts and socks and headed back out to the lake…and we baptized her! It was hard putting back on those stiff, wet and cold jeans and everything else…but when someone is willing to act in obedience to what God has asked of those who choose to follow him…we need to be a part of that. God says that is important and so it was important for us then and will be important for me on Sunday. Baptism is your response to your commitment and God’s saving grace to you. If you haven’t been baptized since you made that commitment to Jesus…do it. No matter how long you have waited…just don’t wait any longer. It is the right thing to do, it is good for you…and I bet it puts a smile on God’s face too! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Acts 8:35-38 NLT So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. (36) As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” (38) He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
this because the commitment that these people have made is represented in this act. As I thought about Sunday, I remembered a baptism that an elder and I did up at the YMCA Camp at Lake Sequoia about this time of year decades ago. It was an important commitment, and the camp had been a special place for all who were getting baptized. As it happened, the Fresno State University Choral Choir was having a retreat next to us and someone talked them into joining us and singing for our little service! It was great!! My buddy and I did the baptisms and one of the things I like to do is to ask if there is anyone else who would like to get baptized on this day. No one responded so the two of us when to a restroom to change out of our wet and cold jeans. We were putting on our warm, dry clothes with all our wet ones on the floor when one of the young men came running in and said, “We have one more!” I asked what in the world was he talking about and he said that one of the ladies with us had decided she really wanted to be baptized today, here…right now! My friend and I looked at our wet clothes and stripped down and put back on wet jeans and shirts and socks and headed back out to the lake…and we baptized her! It was hard putting back on those stiff, wet and cold jeans and everything else…but when someone is willing to act in obedience to what God has asked of those who choose to follow him…we need to be a part of that. God says that is important and so it was important for us then and will be important for me on Sunday. Baptism is your response to your commitment and God’s saving grace to you. If you haven’t been baptized since you made that commitment to Jesus…do it. No matter how long you have waited…just don’t wait any longer. It is the right thing to do, it is good for you…and I bet it puts a smile on God’s face too! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Acts 8:35-38 NLT So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. (36) As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” (38) He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ