Water of Baptism

Water of Baptism

Recently, we had the joy of baptizing two twelve-year-old twin girls here in Colorado. Every time I witness a baptism, I'm reminded that it is so much more than a religious ceremony or a tradition we perform in church.

Baptism tells a story.

And at its heart, that story is not about what we promise God. It is about what God promises us.

God Makes the First Move

Before we get our lives together.

Before we prove anything.

Before we earn anything.

God speaks a word over us.

“You are My beloved.”

That is the beauty of baptism. It begins not with our achievement, but with God's grace.

In a world that constantly asks us to perform, produce, and prove ourselves, baptism offers a different foundation. It reminds us that our identity is received before it is achieved.

God's love comes first.

Always.

A Different Kind of Citizenship

Much of life is spent searching for identity.

We find ourselves attaching labels to who we are and what we do. We define ourselves by accomplishments, careers, popularity, politics, success, failures, or the opinions of others.

But baptism gives us a different identity altogether.

It declares that before we are anything else, we belong to Jesus.

And with that belonging comes a new citizenship.

We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven — the Kingdom of Love.

That identity runs deeper than any label the world can place on us.

It becomes an anchor for the soul.

When Faith Feels Strong—and When It Doesn't

There are seasons when faith feels vibrant and alive.

Prayer comes easily. Hope feels natural. God's presence seems close.

But there are also seasons when faith feels fragile.

Questions arise. Doubts surface. Life becomes confusing. We wonder where God is and whether He is still near.

Those are the moments when baptism becomes especially important.

Because baptism does not rest on the strength of our faith.

It rests on the strength of God's promise.

When our emotions fluctuate and our confidence wavers, baptism reminds us of something steady and unchanging:

We are beloved children of God.

Not because we feel it.

Not because we have earned it.

But because God has declared it.

Getting Mail from Two Kingdoms

Imagine someone who immigrates to a new country.

They may still receive letters, advertisements, and reminders from the place they once called home. But those messages no longer define their citizenship.

They belong somewhere new now.

In a similar way, baptism marks a change of citizenship.

We still live in this world. We still hear its messages. We still receive reminders of fear, competition, comparison, and self-reliance.

In a sense, we still get mail from the old kingdom.

But baptism reminds us that those messages are not our deepest identity.

We belong to another Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of Love.

And every time we remember our baptism, we are reminded where our true citizenship lies.

Remember Who You Are

Baptism is a story of grace.

A story of belonging.

A story where God always makes the first move.

And that is very good news.

As you move through this week, may you remember your baptism.

May you remember that before you were successful or unsuccessful, before you were certain or uncertain, before you were anything else at all, you were loved.

You are God's beloved.

And you belong to the Kingdom of Love.