Do you remember your baptism? For some, the answer is absolutely, yes. How could I ever forget? It was the most amazing moment of my life! Yet, for others, the answer is, nope. No way I could ever remember it. I was too young, an infant or small child.
This coming Sunday we will celebrate a service of remembering our baptism. Now, realize, we are not baptizing anyone again. Baptism should only be performed once in someone’s lifetime (I’m sure God got it right on the first go around, don’t you?). Yet, what baptism means to us needs to be constantly reinforced in our lives, because it is a big commitment. In fact, it is what the Bible calls a covenant, an unbreakable bond that is created between two parties. In this case, between us and God.
Now, you might think, I don’t have to be reminded of that. Yet yes we do. I think, especially in today’s world of information and activities coming at us from all directions, we need a periodic reminder of where our focus is supposed to be, what it is that we are supposed to be doing and why. Sure, you may say, baptism is about cleansing of sin or being washed clean of my past, and that is part of it. Yet, baptism is also a recognition that we are part of something bigger, in a relationship with someone bigger than anything else in this world. It is a symbol of God’s grace at work within each of us, and even more importantly, within the Body of Christ, the church. It is an outward and visible sign of something spiritual occurring within us.
And, even more importantly it is a lifetime commitment, not a one and done sort of thing. God is consistently at work in our lives, growing us into what we are to become – perfect. And Christian perfection only comes through reflection and renewal, moving forward instead of falling back. As such, we practice spiritual disciplines to remind us of this call to keep marching on.
I really think there is nothing more powerful than the Spirit at work in the Body of Christ. So, ponder how you were baptized into that Body and what it means for your call as a disciple. Then, come join us on Sunday morning to be fully “immersed” (yes, pun intended) in the Spirit as we touch the water and remember.
Always pondering,
Pastor Steve
