It’s my favorite tradition: Baptism Sunday. I love it for so many reasons.

 

I love the depth of meaning of the symbol itself. Initially used in the textile industry, the idea of baptism is simple. Want a red shirt? Baptize that shirt in red dye. The old white shirt no longer exists but rather a ‘new’ red shirt. The old white shirt has been consumed by red dye and has changed what it is. It’s NOW a red shirt. This is what baptism is at its core. I’m not Old Grant. I’m New Grant, consumed by Christ so I no longer live, but He does through me.

 

I love the public celebration that it evokes. Clapping, screaming, yelling, hugging, and even a few tears have been shed. These show what this means in a person’s life. It’s a marker to remind us of how God worked (is working) in our life. It’s an altar of sorts, a place that we recognize God’s specific work, but we also know that it’s not a place to just camp either.

 

I love that this is about obedience. Jesus was baptized, and that fact alone is pretty significant. He was God’s Son, He was God Incarnate, He was the Lamb of God WAY before He was ever baptized. On one hand, Jesus didn’t NEED to be baptized… But then again Jesus Himself said, “This is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). I’m not completely sure I understand fully what this means, but at the very least it means that baptism is vital for the Christ-follower just to show obedience.

 

I love that this is about family. Not just parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. It’s about the spiritual family who we can look eye to eye with and know they are on the journey with us. That we have a cheering section. That we aren’t alone.

 

Have you had this experience?

 

If you’re new to following Jesus – This is a great time for you to celebrate this. It frames your journey, it sets a memorable altar in your life, and it will grow in its meaning for you the longer you follow Jesus. You don’t have to have this whole Jesus thing figured out. It’s about being obedient to the next thing Jesus is calling you to.

 

If you’ve been following Jesus for a while but have never gotten around to it – Let me nudge you a bit. Take this step. Why? Because this is how we are supposed to follow Jesus. When He brings stuff into our life that we need to change, that we need to be obedient in, we do it. Could be money, could be serving, could be in the words we say, could be in our attitude, could be a lot of different things. Maybe even be baptism. Obedience leads to deeper places with Him. These deeper places change us to be more like who He has designed for us to be.

 

If you’re thinking about it or have more questions, talk to me. I want you to be a part of an incredible day on September 8th. If you are interested and want to get baptized, shoot us an email and we will follow up.

 

See ya’ soon.

G