BAPTISM in THREE PARTS
PART 1 – Bold Declaration
Normally, they come to you. They come to help, to protect, to put out a fire. They direct traffic at accident scenes. They pull cars from ditches (as they did my long gone 4Runner). They were around after the Evergreen tornado. They help when our church roof started leaking from a random bullet hole (yes, and interesting story for later) and from a storm. And when they arrive on the scene, one of the things they are famous for is making everything wet.
But last Sunday, the roles were reversed. I went to the Fire Station. I was the one getting people soaked. And it was a great celebration.
Two people, one a volunteer fireman, and one a child … were proclaiming to the world the greatest decision they ever made. Not who they would marry. Not where they would go to school. Not career, not relationship, not what kind of car they would drive. This decision they were telling the world is that they believe in Jesus Christ. That they believe Jesus died for their sins and that He is preparing a place for them in heaven.
I was honored to baptize two individuals. Samuel & Kabella. It was unique … in a 30,000 gallon portable water pool used for training … in one of the bays at the Fire Station … immediately after our moong worship. What an exciting event.
Family was gathered around. A few friends were there to witness.
Sam & Kabella were proclaiming to the world
the greatest decision they ever made …
that they were followers of Jesus
PART 2 – Beautiful Promise
This week, I also was part of a funeral. It was a middle age woman whom I did not know very much about. But one detail about her life that connected to my heart was she was being buried at the church where she was baptized decades ago. One verse kept bouncing in my grey matter … Romans 6:4 …
That which a baptism encapsulates, dead to self … raised to walk in newness, is now what has taken place literally. She had died to this world, but is raised in completely new, totally healed, joyously celebrating the presence of the Lord. She is now alive like she has never experienced before.
Baptism is a picture of what God has done – now she is completely raised in newness of life. That’s exciting.
PART 3 – Beginning a New Life
This Sunday we baptized a young man that shared he wanted Jesus in his heart. That phrase means so much, much more than the simple words.
The heart is throne room of our lives, and this young man wants to declare to the world that he is putting Jesus on that throne – making LORD and SAVIOR. His baptism will declare a new beginning in his life … one where he lives for and follows Jesus in newness of life.
Bold Declaration – have you made that one?
Beautiful Promise – can you claim it?
Beginning a New Life – are you living it?
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
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