Scripture: Colossians 2:12
…when you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Thought for the Day: Today, Mike Hansen, our property guru here at Cypress Creek Christian Church, started some important work inside the Forum. He tore out the baptistry that is usually hidden under a false floor at the back of the stage area. The baptistry was removed because of a small problem. Well actually, the problem is big – the source of the problem is what is actually small. The problem, of course, is termites. It is amazing just how much damage such a small critter can do to any structure, but in the case of our baptistry, it was beyond repair. As a pastor, I tend to think of anything and everything as a potential metaphor, and so as I looked at the hole that was once a baptistry, I couldn’t help but think about those little things that can undermine our baptismal experiences. Now the actual baptism is something that God does, and so baptism is always a perfect expression of God’s transformational power revealed in Jesus. The response to that God experience is where little things can quietly sneak in and begin destroying the framework of one’s faith. I only mention this as a reminder to reclaim your baptism, whether it was something you experienced as an infant, child, youth or adult. Keep in mind, it was a God initiated act…but the life of faith must contain the regular work of remembering, reclaiming and recommitting oneself to what God first did in the waters. Be careful of those little critters who can quietly begin to eat away at the framework around your baptism.
Prayer: In this moment, Lord, let me reconnect to your loving act in Jesus Christ. Let me reclaim what is symbolically expressed in all the rituals of the faith, but especially in the waters of baptism. Amen.
