Jonathan made these public declarations:
"Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?" "Yes."
"Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" "Absolutely."
"Is it your desire to live for Him with all your heart and are you willing to serve God's people wherever He calls you?" "Definitely."
"Then upon your profession of faith in Jesus Christ and your public commitment to live for Him, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Jonathan has been baptized!
Our beloved Pastor Maury closes in prayer.
The letter I wrote to him commemorating his baptism:
Dear Jonathan,
I was shocked when you decided to ride the bike across the high wire the other day. I still remember the time we rode a Ferris wheel together and how terrified you were the entire time. You told me that the best part about the ride was “being back on the ground again.” Why would someone who has always been afraid of heights want to ride a bike across a thin wire, three floors high? I peered over the railing, all the way down to the ground level. “Are you sure?” You smiled and nodded.
I admired you in that moment. Although you were nervous, you were willing to step outside your comfort zone, face your fears, and challenge yourself. I knew that you must have calculated the risk and that seeing a sturdy net underneath the high wire, an obvious display of protection, gave you courage. The presence of that net reassured me, too.
The attendant strapped you in, and you began to peddle. You concentrated
on keeping balance, with your right hand gripping the bike handle and your left
hand held at your side as ballast. Your eyes were focused ahead, undistracted
from the goal, as you peddled to home base. And then, it was over. You
scrambled over to us with sparkling eyes and a sense of accomplishment. You did
it!
Although that was quite a day, today is even
more significant: the day you follow the Lord in baptism. This is the day when you declare to the world, “I belong to Christ. I am dying to my old self, and I am born again with a new life, a life of promise and hope and purpose.” It is a day I will treasure forever as your Mom, because I have prayed for it since the day you were born. I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in truth.
I won’t lie to you and tell you that following Christ will be easy. Along with unspeakable blessings and joy, you will also encounter hazards in life. People will challenge you. Some will fail you. You will lose sleep over the injustices you have to endure through no fault of your own. You will experience suffering, and worse, witness those whom you love suffering. You will make mistakes. You will get discouraged. You will doubt. You will pray for answers and wait….and wait….and wait.
But do not lose heart. Just like the net under the tightrope, God’s grace is spread thick and wide to remind you of His presence. Although His safekeeping may not always be obvious, you can have peace in His promise never to leave you or abandon you. You are His, and He does not lose any of His own. He is good; He is wise; and He is faithful.
Sometimes you will be called to take a risk, to venture outside of safe boundaries, with an unknown outcome. Choose courage. You may teeter-totter between fear and faith, but God will help you make it to the finish line. Keep moving forward and don’t take your eyes off the prize: Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.
I love you, and I'm so proud of you,
Mom"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." Matthew 28:19-20
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 1:4
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