Ready to Start Over?

There comes a time in many of our lives when we realize that it is time for a change. We realize that we need a big change, and definitely a change for the better. Baptism is a way for Christians to show everyone they love, family, friends, and their church family, that they are ready to make a change for the Lord. When we make the choice to get baptized, we are making a commitment to God that we will live by His rules, instead of playing by our own rules. We are making an outward expression of our belief in Jesus Christ as Our Savior and we make a promise that we will conduct ourselves in such a way that is pleasing to Him.

Matthew 10:32: “Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.”

Baptism shows a tremendous commitment to God. Our faith and dedication pleases the Lord. He welcomes us with open arms into His Kingdom and we are made clean of all sin.  We are cleansed of our past and we are blessed with not only a new life but also eternal life in Heaven after this life has expired. We no longer have to fear death because God conquered death on our behalf. He washes away all of the impurities left behind by sin and makes us brand new.

1 Peter 3:21: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”

When we are baptized by water, we are being cleansed. The negative, the mistakes, the regrets, they are all washed away because God has forgiveness us. Sin no longer lords over our heads. We are no longer victims to fear and pain because we have made a pledge to God to turn away from our old lives and to live in righteousness. If we really put things into perspective, we should all jump at the chance to be baptized so we don’t have waste another moment wallowing in sin. Obviously, it is the most meaningful decision we could ever make and, therefore, should not be entered into lightly, but, when you think about how the Lord shows us His love and commitment to us every day, of course we should give back all we can to Him.

Acts 22:16: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”

If you haven’t taken that leap of faith as an adult by being baptized, I really hope that you consider it. It has been almost 4 years since I recommitted my life to Christ and almost 2 years since I was baptized. I think the most amazing part about being baptized and turning my eyes back to God is the amount of joy I feel. Baptism refocuses your attention on Him and, while your relationship with God grows, you will see a change within yourself that is astounding. When I think back to the person I was 4 years ago, I hardly recognize her, and that is a good thing. I used to experience life by the world’s standards, but those experiences are what have brought me to where I am today. I would not change a moment of the life I have lived. I can celebrate and praise the Lord because I am forgiven and I have an amazing relationship with God.

Romans 10:9: “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Whether full-immersion baptism or sprinkling baptism, we all have the opportunity to express our love and faith in God through baptism. We need to remember that life is short. There is no time like the present to put our lives into perspective and to redirect our attention on God. We need to exercise our faith so it will remain strong and active. If we believe in Him and hold Him in our hearts, we should listen closely to His voice to lead us to a newly found intimacy. Baptism may be the answer to the closeness that you seek.

Thank you, Lord, for the our relationships with You. Let our relationships grow and blossom into pure joy and unending faith. Thank you for turning our lives around and bringing us new meaning and purpose. Thank you for rescuing us and forgiving us of our sins. Thank you for the opportunity to be baptized so we can tell you and also show you how serious we are about making a commitment to You. Amen. – Katie Ann 

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What’s Your Worth?

Worth is based on the value of an item in reference to importance or usefulness. Today, the worth of the penny is technically one cent, but many agree that the penny is valued even lower than that, almost to the point of considering to get rid of it all together. A penny no longer holds much value in the eyes of the consumer. When it comes to the worth of a person, it depends on the person and how much they are valued (usually monetarily). Magazines, like Forbes, make lists of well-known people and post how much they are worth. Whether we are worth five dollars or a billion dollars, God’s perception of our worth is very different.

Ephesians 2:4-9: “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God does not calculate our worth by adding up our money or even our good deeds. His mercy and grace is not conditional based on our worth. He saved us by sending His Son to die on our behalf because He loves us, despite the sins we commit and the mistakes that we make. We are not worthy, but God would never view us as worthless. He loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to live as a human and to be crucified so that we can live an eternity in Heaven with Him. What an amazing gift we have received!

Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Today, we celebrate the risen Lord. Jesus did not die and stay laying in a tomb to rot. Jesus rose just as He said He would. His crucifixion was not the end, it was only the beginning. We have been made new in His resurrection through His grace. We have been given a fresh start. Now that we have grace, it doesn’t mean that we aren’t going to sin, but it does mean that our sins have already been forgiven. Although we are still sinners, we are not destined to die, as long as we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our relationship with God allows us to have a self-awareness when we sin. We are able to identify when we have sinned. Although our sins were already forgiven on the cross, we still need to acknowledge that we have sinned. The Lord told Peter that we should forgive others who sin against us seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). God extends us the same courtesy. His grace is not a limited time offer; it does not have an expiration date. His grace is a testament to His deep, undying love for each one of His children. We need to be honest with the Lord when we sin and confess our sins to Him, and He will forgive us and help to guide us so we do not fall into the same temptation again. Thank and praise His holy name from rescuing us for a miserable fate. He is worthy to be praised.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. Thank your for your endless forgiveness and patience when we mess up. Thank you for allowing us to confess our sins. Please help us to be conscious of our sin and to present those sins with humility. Let us ask for forgiveness and learn from our mistakes so we can live lives that are pleasing to You. Thank you for always keeping Your promises. Thank you for conquering death and rising from the dead to show us that we have life because of your love for us. Happy Easter, Lord. We love you. Amen. – Katie Ann