were you sincere?

Its Saturday morning. I had to work today. Got up, shaved, and drove out to the main clubhouse on lake drive to baptize someone. Not really work is it? O for the life of a preacher!

What a great morning. What a great moment. What a great day. When adults get baptized I like to remind them of a couple of things.

First of all, baptism isn't only about your commitment. In fact, baptism is not primarily about your commitment. In baptism, God's promise is on display. His commitment to you is front and center. You may not remember your baptism in 20 years, but God will always remember the moment that you chose to follow Him in obedience.

The other thing that I like to talk to people about is how they may or may not feel. Feelings come and go, feelings are fickle. You can't get rebaptized every time you feel far away from God. The question at the baptism of an adult is not, "did you feel something?" but "where you sincere?"

This is a huge and central issue in all of our spiritual decisions. Whether a person is being baptized, bringing their child for baptism, choosing Jesus Christ or rededicating their life to Him, the question is never about how you felt. What matters is this: were you sincere?

If we made a sincere decision, feelings will come and go, but we will always be able to take comfort in the memory that we honestly put our commitment forward.

God will always honor that. Years from now, you may not remember, you may not always feel your faith is on fire, but if you chose Him in sincerity, that is what God remembers. And you remain in good hands.

Its a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.