Child of God (Galatians 3:27)
JT felt different after stepping out in faith. He knew that life would never be the same again. He had trusted in Jesus and things were changing now. He was having thoughts he hadn’t had before. He felt like a newborn colt on shaky legs, just learning to walk and wanting to run!
He awoke the next morning, knelt down and asked, “Lord Jesus, please guide me and show me what I need to do next to be closer to you. I want to follow you and am not sure how to do that. Thank you for all you have done for me and all you will do!”
JT stood up and felt like he had a purpose now. He strode off down the road and felt like he was walking from darkness into the light. He felt nervous, almost like it was a great holiday. It sure felt like a great holiday to him today. Nothing felt like it would ever be the same.
After a couple of hours walking JT came around the bend and saw some people in the river. They were walking around in the river in their clothes. This was the strangest thing he had ever seen. He began to chuckle, it was not a laugh meant to embarrass, just a laugh of pure joy. He walked closer and saw there was a man there in a robe, he was saying something, but JT couldn’t hear, so he came closer.
“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, you are reborn now!” The man said as he dunked the person in the river. Everyone around them began clapping. The man he had been baptized walking towards him with a large grin on his face.
The man in the river grinned and his gaze lit upon JT, “are you here to be baptized young man?”
JT replied, “I don’t know. I prayed this morning to Jesus to show me how to be closer to him. I want to follow him all of my life. Then I began walking and I am here.” His voice trembled a bit.
The large man chuckled and said, “It is no accident you are here. God has a way of working in mysterious ways. What is your name?”
JT answered, “I don’t know I have been walking for so long, and I have been using the name JT to signify that I am on a Jesus Trek, or a journey to find Jesus. I have been on my own so long that I don’t remember my name anymore.”
The man in the river gestured to him, “It doesn’t matter, when you are baptized you will be born again, a new creation in Christ Jesus, you can have a new name if you want.”
JT began to walk towards him; he dropped his backpack on the riverbank and waded out to the man.
“Do you believe that Jesus Christ, the son of God is the true savior and the only path to God? If so, say yes.” JT replied, “ yes.”
“Do you confess your sins and repent them to Jesus?” He added, JT replied, “Yes, yes!”
“I baptize you a new creation in Christ, “ He dipped JT beneath the water and then when he came up he added, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. You are now a disciple of Christ.”
JT came up and he grinned with happiness, he felt a peace and love inside him he had never felt before. He looked around and the colors looked brighter. The colors seemed brighter today. It was like he had been seeing through a dark glass and now someone had cleaned the window. His sight wasn’t the only sense that felt changed; the smells were much sweeter and things felt right and good.
He thanked the man, then went up on the bank fell on his knees and prayed “Thank you Jesus for showing me the way. This is the journey I have been on, to find you.”
QOTD: This story illustrates how you become a new person when you are baptized. You declare that you are a follower of Jesus and are speaking it out loud to the world. Do you remember your baptism? Did you feel changed afterwards? (I sure did!) Please add your comments.
To read the introduction to this series please click HERE