It Is Important To Understand What Baptism Is
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, I know it is important that I grow in my understanding of Your Word. Guide me with Your Spirit. Amen
“The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:34-36, 38-39 NIV
REFLECT:
As early teens a younger brother and I made our decision to follow Christ in baptism at the same time. It was an exciting event for me and set me on the path I have followed ever since. He, however, took a detour and walked away from God for several years. Many years later he and his wife started attending a strong Bible believing and teaching church. Like the Ethiopian Eunuch he grew to understand the Word and what it meant.
As he grew in his faith he and his wife went on a trip to Israel with their pastor. When the group got to the Jordan River, my brother asked the pastor to baptize him. He told me later that his decision to be baptized a second time was because he believed at his first baptism, he didn’t understand what he was doing. He only did it because I was doing it. This time he finally understood what baptism was all about and he was a serious Christian until his death and went to be with the Lord.
APPLY:
One of the major reasons for the mentoring program the church has is to help individuals grow and understand the Word. It is this understanding which, as with the Ethiopian Official, prepares a person to want to follow the Lord in baptism. If you feel you need to have a better understanding of the Bible, contact Jarrod Peine and he will set you up with someone to help guide you.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, help me to rely on Your Holy Spirit to guide me in my study of Your Word so that I can better understand the full meaning of baptism. Amen