Signs of Change

Luke 3:21-22NIV “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Today was water baptism Sunday at our church, and I just have to say that there is nothing like witnessing a water baptism. It doesn’t matter how many times I have seen someone get dunked, I still feel like my insides are throwing a party every time.

What really gets me is the humbling that a person goes through to get into that tank. Most people would do about anything to avoid having large groups of dressed-up people staring at them, but then add that to the fact that in just a few short minutes that same baptism “candidate” (which is a phrase that for some reason always makes me pause and think “now why exactly is this the term we use to describe these people, but I digress), is about to be dripping wet, and may possibly even be wearing an old choir robe, as a sort of costume for the occasion, well, the word “humbling” really does come to mind.

And, now that I think of it, perhaps this is what I absolutely love about witnessing a baptism. All the pretense is stripped away, and you get to hear how Jesus has made a difference in the lives of the “candidates”. It all comes down to, “Jesus has changed my life, and I am going to publicly declare today that I will serve Him for the rest of my days.”

I was so proud of the first young lady that was baptized today. She is a lovely young adult that I’ve been able to get to know a bit over this past year. She is always immaculately done up, makeup perfect, hair in place, and always looking incredibly stylish and put together. Yet I couldn’t help but think that I had never seen her look more beautiful than when she was standing in that tank, seemingly make-up free, professing her love for Jesus, and her desire to follow Him in ministry.

The second young lady that got in the tank today is a new face around the church. I met her on her first Sunday about 4 months ago. I don’t know much of her story yet, but this much I do…She has found something in Jesus that she hadn’t found anywhere else, and it has changed not only her countenance, but her entire life. It was so evident in her bold sharing before her baptism. Her honesty brought tears to my eyes and I celebrated with her as she further embraced this new life of following Jesus. I look forward to getting to know her in the days to come.

It’s been a lot of years since I was baptized…but every time I see a baptism, I thank God all over again for saving me, for giving me a firm place to stand, and for changing this wreck that is Carrie Johnston, into something He can use. I pray that in my everyday, ordinary life there are still signs of the change that He is working in me.