Oh, my Father, am I tired. It has been a full weekend, to say the least. May the words I share come at just the right time for those who need to hear them. Amen.

1 Peter 3:21 (<<click here to read the passage)

A prayer I wrote some time ago reads as follows: Help me to key in on what is important and to accomplish what needs to be done. And through it all may my life reflect Your word as found in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.” May I think of You all day long.

I wanted to open with that prayer but this passage from 1 Peter speaks of baptism.

Here it is to read for your convenience.

And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. NLT

Baptism is a very important part of a Christian’s life but as with anything in life, especially life in the church, we must be careful to see it for what it is. Too often we enhance things and then run with the enhancements.

Plain and simple, baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. It is a physical demonstration of a spiritual occurrence. When we accept Christ as our Savior because of his sacrifice in our stead, our “flesh”, i.e. our sinful nature, is crucified with Christ. In doing so we are raised with Him in resurrection power to live with Him in daily victory over sin.

Baptism is symbolic of this. When we are immersed in water it symbolizes our death to sin. Being brought back up out of water symbolizes our resurrection into a new life in Christ.

Baptism can be by immersion or by pouring of water or even by sprinkling but it all communicates dying to sin and self. There is nothing “magical” about it. And it’s not some sort of “Get Out of Jail, Free” card. If we turn our backs on Christ and forsake our relationship with Him, doing what we want, our baptism was for nothing.

Lord, Luke 9:23 records Your words (and this passage was referenced in today’s sermon as well!),

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. AMP

Once again, sovereign Lord, the prayer I penned so long ago meshes perfectly with these closing thoughts so well. May I take up my cross, this day, and may I think of You all day long. Amen.

(Jan 25th, 2017, Wed, 9:13 am)
Jan 29th, 2023, Sun, 7:27 pm