Bruce remembers watching a group...
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Bruce remembers watching a group of people gather at the river every spring for baptism. Everyone dressed in white, members of the church as well as those to be baptized. The pastor would baptize believers in waist-deep water. The service itself would last several hours. Bruce would often wonder how and why people would stand in the dirty river for so long. It was simply absurd and would bring a chuckle every year as he drove by and saw the people in the river. However, he never heard anyone from the church complain. Quite the opposite, he would overhear people throughout the community saying how much they were looking forward to that special Sunday.
When Bruce was at a turning point in his life he remembered the believers gathering in the river. He could not get that image out of his mind. He began to think that there must be something to being a Christian if people were willing to stand in the river. He began paying attention to see how these believers conducted themselves in public. He soon discovered that their faith was real and genuine. More than that he wanted what they had.
Bruce began attending church, something he had not done since he was in high school. Last spring Bruce waded into the river with the rest of the church and was baptized.
When our Lord Jesus was baptized he identified with each one of us. Jesus stood in the dirty water to be like us. God recognized and celebrated the moment, "You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased."
When Bruce was at a turning point in his life he remembered the believers gathering in the river. He could not get that image out of his mind. He began to think that there must be something to being a Christian if people were willing to stand in the river. He began paying attention to see how these believers conducted themselves in public. He soon discovered that their faith was real and genuine. More than that he wanted what they had.
Bruce began attending church, something he had not done since he was in high school. Last spring Bruce waded into the river with the rest of the church and was baptized.
When our Lord Jesus was baptized he identified with each one of us. Jesus stood in the dirty water to be like us. God recognized and celebrated the moment, "You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased."
