Baptism Follow-Up
September 8, 2009
In a previous blog, I noted that two men from Brother Bryan Mission were recently baptized. I spoke to both men about their baptisms a few days later and asked them if anything was different. Both emphatically said, “Yes.”
Both of the men suggested that they felt different and I think both said that they were a little more humble. I remember my experience of baptism in similar ways. I don’t think humility is what comes to mind when I reflect on any part of my life, but I do recall having felt the touch of God—I felt (at least for a time), more able to fight against sin. I think this is what they felt. When you have an encounter with the Holy Lord God, you are purged of some wickedness.
I do not know what happens during or after baptism. It seems a mystery to me, but I think something does happen. Certainly it is an act of obedience, and public declaration of faith, but it is something more—a time not only for us to respond to God, but for Him to respond to us—perhaps to shine His face upon us for a bit. Isn’t this usually the case? Psalm 34 says, “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.”
I am glad that these two men took these steps of obedience subsequent to their new faith. They are getting a glimpse of how obedience honors the Lord God.