Baptism – letting go of procrastination

Just recently, I had the joy of watching my twelve year old daughter get baptized. It was a beautiful demonstration of her commitment to Christ and public testimony of how He saved her. It reminded me of when I was baptized; only I was eighteen years old. Even though I asked Jesus into my heart at age seven, I waited. I didn't have the courage that my daughter had and so, as time past, I just put it farther down the list of priorities. It wasn't till my parents brought the subject up, did I remember I hadn't been baptized yet. I had procrastinated the very thing that symbolized my faith in the most public way I could. So, I followed through in obedience from scripture and was baptized (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). It was a beautiful day that I will never forget. 

In the bible, Ananias told Paul after he had seen the Lord, in Acts 22;15-16, "For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name (HCSB)."

Have you been procrastinating showing your faith publicly? Are you like I was and you know Jesus has saved you, but you have not been baptized? Have you been putting off sharing your faith with someone you know needs to hear it? Why delay? You are a witness to what He has done for you in your life. It is significant!

I was very touched when I watched my daughter's baptism, but I tend to be whenever I witness any baptism – it is powerful. I heard a pastor say once, that many adults have come to know the Lord after viewing a baptism. God can use your testimony. Don't think that it's not significant. Sharing your story of how Jesus saved you is one of the most important conversations you can have with someone. I was listening to a sermon recently, from Pastor Chip Ingram and he said, "It is not the messenger, it's the message." The message of the gospel is powerful, in and of itself, not the one who is sharing it. God can use what we think is a poorly displayed message of the truth and penetrate a hurting heart. Don't procrastinate because you are afraid of messing it up.

Perhaps, you can be motivated by the example of my parents. Do you know someone who needs encouragement to follow through with baptism or sharing their faith? I will be forever grateful to my parents for helping me let go of my procrastination. Not only was my commitment to Jesus publicized but, I have a concrete memory that is forever etched in my heart and mind of that commitment.

Let go of procrastinating! Don't delay! Get up and display your faith in Jesus Christ just as Paul was commanded to do. It's all in the power of the message.

"Jesus, thank you for my story of how you saved me from my sin. Please forgive me for not sharing my faith publicly. I let go of my procrastination to you."

© Carol Outhous Jones 2014