As I hop around my house prepping for my friend's baby shower tomorrow, my thoughts fall on last weekend. Sunday was Mother's Day, and we had a busy but awesome time. That day was even more special to me, though, than normal. In the midst of honoring moms and acknowledging just how great my own is - I unexpectedly ended up being baptized.
The two may seem unrelated, but I find them to be so beautifully intertwined and pretty neat that it happened on such a holiday. Some of you who know me a bit better may also be wondering - Weren't you baptized as a baby? - or - Wait, what about your views on infant vs believer's baptism?.
Well, we won't go into my thoughts too deeply on that subject here (though I will say I'm for both), but I wanted to share what took place that morning at church. We had scheduled to have baptisms that day and most who were being baptized had planned on it ahead of time. I however, had not.
See, I WAS baptized as a baby and didn't feel the need to do it again. Even so, many people over the years pushed against that saying that I'm commanded to as a believer. But I just wasn't going to do it out of pressure or coercion. So, I sat there as they played music and prepped for people to come up and I prayed. I told God that I was grateful to witness this but also that I was a little disappointed my friend (who I was hoping would be baptized that day) wasn't there to profess her trust in Jesus. He responded in assuring me that she would at the right time, but then came the kicker - "What about YOU?" He said.
What?
As I wondered if I heard this correctly, my heart sped up and my spirit quickened within me. I started to shake a little and my palms got sweaty. I asked God if he wanted me to and told him I needed his assurance. Just like I didn't want to do it out of coercion from others before, I didn't want to be forced to do it out of my own struggle with image or get caught up in the feelings of the moment.
He said YES. I want YOU to.
So I slipped off my shoes, slid by surprised looks in the seats and got in line. When it was my turn, I approached the water and an even more surprised Sean (Pastor). I sat in the water, we prayed, and down I went.
The water was warm, comforting, and for that moment all was silent. I was lifted out of the water and as I stepped out onto the floor and walked forward I felt completely clothed and wrapped in the warmth of that water as it stilled and waited to drip. It was a beautiful thing. The body rejoiced. And I was so glad I obeyed.
The water was warm, comforting, and for that moment all was silent. I was lifted out of the water and as I stepped out onto the floor and walked forward I felt completely clothed and wrapped in the warmth of that water as it stilled and waited to drip. It was a beautiful thing. The body rejoiced. And I was so glad I obeyed.
So, how in the world does this relate to mothers day and the celebration of a new baby tomorrow? NEW LIFE! REBIRTH! My creator gave me life, I lost it, and he bought me back. I was buried with him in his death and raised to new and everlasting life with him in his resurrection! I have been washed by water, but greater than that, I have been washed by his blood and given the very Spirit of God. And now I sit here to share this with you as the rain pours down outside washing the air and quenching the thirst of the earth.
How magnificently he speaks to us.
How great his love is for me, for You.
EH
"..for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God."
1 Peter 1:23
1 Peter 1:23
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