More Than Just a Story - the Book of JohnSample

Today's devotional is centered around John the Baptist. Isn’t it interesting that he has been known, down through the ages, by that name? Not John Anderson or John Johnson, or whatever his family’s last name was. Not even as John, the son of Zechariah, which was a common way of identifying someone back then. No, he has been known as John “The Baptist,” because baptism was his thing!

I was raised in a family that went to church almost every Sunday. We bowed our heads at the supper table and recited a memorized prayer together. “Now I lay me down to sleep…” was a childhood prayer we recited as our mother tucked us in. Mom and Dad took each of us in as infants and had us baptized. But I can honestly tell you that I didn’t understand my need for Jesus as my Savior and Lord until I was 26 years old. Maybe you have a similar story.

So, what about baptism? Was my infant baptism enough, or should I be baptized after I make my own choice to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior? A great question to consider.

Author Max Lucado has this to say on the subject: “Once a person admits his or her sin and turns to Christ for salvation, baptism is the step that proclaims to Heaven and earth that they are a follower of Christ.” Lucado goes on to say that every single convert in the New Testament was baptized, except for the thief on the cross.

My wife and I decided to be baptized together as a public announcement before Heaven and earth, before family and friends, that we were committing the rest of our lives to following Jesus Christ.

Thought for consideration:
I personally look at my relationship with Jesus Christ like I look at marriage.
Would you want to marry a person who wants to keep the marriage a secret?
Is your relationship with Jesus a secret?
Have you ever considered going public with your faith? I'd encourage you to consider it if you haven't already.