"Praise God for the privilege of
being in Christ's family and being called by his wonderful name!” (1 Peter 4:16
LB)
Healthy
families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part
of the family. Sadly, I’ve met many church members who’ve never publicly
identified themselves with God’s family by being baptized.
Baptism is not some optional ritual to be delayed or postponed.
It signifies your inclusion in God’s family. It publicly announces to the
world, "I am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family." Jesus
commanded this beautiful act for all in his family.
For
years I wondered why Jesus’ Great Commission gives the same prominence to
baptism as it does to the great tasks of evangelism and edification.
Why is baptism so important? Because it symbolizes one of the
purposes of your life: incorporation into the fellowship of God’s eternal
family.
Baptism
declares your faith, shares Christ’s burial and Resurrection, symbolizes your
death to your old life, and announces your new life in Christ. It is also a
celebration of your inclusion in God’s family.
Your
baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened
the moment God brought you into his family.
Baptism
doesn’t make you a member of God’s family; only faith in Christ does that.
Baptism shows you are part of God’s family. Like a wedding ring, it is a
visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart. It is an act of
initiation, not something you put off until you are spiritually mature. The
only biblical condition is that you believe.
The
Bible says, "Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family.
That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews
2:11 CEV).
Let
that amazing truth sink in! Because Jesus makes you holy, God is proud of you.
This devotional
©2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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