Baptized into God’s Family

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?" So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" Acts 8:29-36 NLT

Baptism is a sacred thing. A special action that declares to the world that you belong to Christ—to our very God Himself. When we are baptized, we die to ourselves.

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4.

Death…we choose to die to ourselves in baptism. We give up all our selfish desires. In that death we are buried—our sins are destroyed—not just covered. In baptism we choose to live—to walk—in Christ’s love. Can there be any better thing in life…or in death…than to be part of God’s family?

I grew up learning about Jesus at church…and by watching others, especially my mother, live in a Christian way. I experienced a sprinkling baptism before I was confirmed and became a member of my home church as a teenager. When I was in college I accepted Christ as my Savior…but it wasn’t until several years later when I rededicated my life that I decided to be baptized by immersion. To me that was the moment of my spiritual rebirth—I died to myself, was buried and rose again. It was a sacred moment. Have you experienced baptism? Have you asked yourself…Why can’t I be baptized?   

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, guide those have not made a decision for Christ…give them wisdom to see Jesus for who He is…and to die to themselves. May they live for Christ and become part of God’s family.

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

                                All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.          

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