A couple months ago, my best friend called me and said he wanted to be baptized this summer, and that he wanted me to do it in the river where we used to do camping trips. What an amazing honor!
Recently, he and I got to spend some good time chatting, and talking about why he wants to be baptized. His main reason is a recommitment to his faith, and a marker for a changed life in Jesus.
I love asking questions like, “Why do you want to be baptized?” and “What do you mean by a recommitment to your faith?” Because when I ask these questions, I take the opportunity to answer them for myself. This conversation got me thinking a lot about baptism these past few days. Baptism isn’t an act of salvation, but it is a public declaration that I want my life to take a 180-degree turn. I want to stop going my way and start going Jesus’ way. And it’s a commitment to show people in your life that you don’t want to keep living the way you have been.
(Side note: if you've never been baptized and the Lord is laying that on your heart, I’d love to chat with you about it. Hope’s Baptism Sunday is Sept 13.)
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
As I've sat with this verse and thought about baptism, I’ve questioned even myself. Is the old gone? Am I different than I was before I started following Jesus? Or am I the same, just with the addition of Jesus? These are scary, convicting questions, but ones I think are important for us to consider and revisit from time to time.
We’re called to surrender our whole lives to Jesus. Not to surrender all but my finances. Or all but my shopping habits. Or all but the way I talk to my kids and family. Or all, but my love of X, Y or Z. You can fill in the blanks for your own situation, but I think you see my point. It’s easy to give Jesus part of our lives: it’s hard to surrender all.
Last Sunday, Pastor Nick shared the question, “What are you actually spending your life on?” Chances are, if you’ve surrendered every part of your life to Jesus, then you’re probably spending your life on the right things. But if you’re holding parts back for safety, comfort or time: You’re not alone. I’m in this camp.
One of the songs we sang last Sunday had the lyric, “I lift my hands up, lay my whole life down, my whole life down before You.” It was hard for me to sing that, because I don’t think I can say that’s honestly true. I know there are things I’m holding back from God, and I’m sure there are more things I have blinders for and don’t even realize I’m holding back.
My prayer this week for me and you is that God reveals the things in our lives we’re holding on to and to release those to Him, knowing He will never let us down. May you experience abundant blessings this week as you lean into the Author and Perfector of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
Blessings,
Charlie
Recently, he and I got to spend some good time chatting, and talking about why he wants to be baptized. His main reason is a recommitment to his faith, and a marker for a changed life in Jesus.
I love asking questions like, “Why do you want to be baptized?” and “What do you mean by a recommitment to your faith?” Because when I ask these questions, I take the opportunity to answer them for myself. This conversation got me thinking a lot about baptism these past few days. Baptism isn’t an act of salvation, but it is a public declaration that I want my life to take a 180-degree turn. I want to stop going my way and start going Jesus’ way. And it’s a commitment to show people in your life that you don’t want to keep living the way you have been.
(Side note: if you've never been baptized and the Lord is laying that on your heart, I’d love to chat with you about it. Hope’s Baptism Sunday is Sept 13.)
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
As I've sat with this verse and thought about baptism, I’ve questioned even myself. Is the old gone? Am I different than I was before I started following Jesus? Or am I the same, just with the addition of Jesus? These are scary, convicting questions, but ones I think are important for us to consider and revisit from time to time.
We’re called to surrender our whole lives to Jesus. Not to surrender all but my finances. Or all but my shopping habits. Or all but the way I talk to my kids and family. Or all, but my love of X, Y or Z. You can fill in the blanks for your own situation, but I think you see my point. It’s easy to give Jesus part of our lives: it’s hard to surrender all.
Last Sunday, Pastor Nick shared the question, “What are you actually spending your life on?” Chances are, if you’ve surrendered every part of your life to Jesus, then you’re probably spending your life on the right things. But if you’re holding parts back for safety, comfort or time: You’re not alone. I’m in this camp.
One of the songs we sang last Sunday had the lyric, “I lift my hands up, lay my whole life down, my whole life down before You.” It was hard for me to sing that, because I don’t think I can say that’s honestly true. I know there are things I’m holding back from God, and I’m sure there are more things I have blinders for and don’t even realize I’m holding back.
My prayer this week for me and you is that God reveals the things in our lives we’re holding on to and to release those to Him, knowing He will never let us down. May you experience abundant blessings this week as you lean into the Author and Perfector of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
Blessings,
Charlie