Marked as His

Something that’s been on my heart lately has been getting baptized. It’s been well over nine months now, but it came up again - I brought it up at Bible study last night just before we had started. Then with the study we were going off this time had to do with the Last Sipper. So in the next future dates we’re going to do the washing of the feet and then Last Supper at the end of December, and for this I want to come to Him worthy. They prayed over me and said how excited they were, and I felt good about it too, since it’s something I’ve been putting off here for a while.

I feel like I strive to be closer to God, but then I backslide in my walk. And that’s okay after all  we’re not a perfect people. We were made in His image, but our actions need to reflect Him entirely, and I’m not quite there yet. I see my imperfections daily. I really am my own worst critic. But even so, I’ve decided I want to give my life to Christ. Baptism will mark me as His.

Although I was baptized as a baby, I’m coming into this now with a deeper understanding of why. As babies we come into the world perfect and without sin - but choosing baptism as an adult feels like I'm choosing Him intentionally. My hope for this baptism is that it strengthens my relationship with Jesus Christ and positions me to follow wherever the Spirit leads.

So why now? I want to get baptized now because tomorrow is not promised. And I understand what my mom is saying about doing it at her church, but the truth is… I’ve been going to this Bible study with friends, and while I’m not committed to one specific church right now. I just want to get baptized. I don’t want this to become a matter about location or preference - I just want Jesus.

I was so excited for this for myself, but once I invited my family, that pressure crept in. And I know mom meant well, but moments like this can’t be divided or scrutinized. This is between me and God.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?
for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” — Galatians 1:10

My prayer is that we all go forth and do the most radical things we can to glorify Christ - even when it feels scary or doesn’t look like what people expect. I pray that everyone, in their own walk with Him, follows what the Spirit is leading you to do, without being held back by the fear of offending someone or hurting someone’s feelings. Our eternity is at stake and the days are short, in Jesus name, amen.