Stepping Forward

Exodus 39-40 Mark 1:1-28 Psalm 35:1-16 Proverbs 9:11-12

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” – Mark 1:8 TNIV

“I’ve been baptized eight times,” he said with a smile. “The last time finally took. It’s possible to go down a devil and come back up a wet devil.” His comment reminded me of when a number of my friends decided to get baptized when I was a fourteen. It was popular at the time. We had a new youth pastor and he was concerned when he learned I was not baptized. I agreed to take the class he gave before being baptized, not promising that I would be baptized. My friends did not seem to have a change after their baptism, and I didn’t want to go through the motions without meaning it.

Actions we take do not always reflect our heart condition. We can take a stand for God and be baptized when it is popular. Or, we can sit and wait to feel a certain feeling before taking a stand for God. When we think about it, simply the act of being dipped in water does not save us. So why bother? Why not wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Sometimes a choice to take a physical step leads to a spiritual change. It’s a way of opening one’s heart to God, allowing Him to come into our hearts, even when we don’t act for the right reasons. Even if it takes seven or eight times.

Lord Jesus, we want to take a step, even a ceremonial step, closer to You. Please take advantage of this step to come and speak to our hearts today. We don’t want just a water baptism, but a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Continue to draw us closer to You as we take these small steps closer to You. Amen.