Baptism is a bold declaration of a personal belief in Jesus Christ. It is an outward expression of an inward conversion. Baptism is symbolic of an individual Christian (normally a new believer) burying their old way of life and coming alive in Christ. Jesus commands baptism for His children. He knows the accountability, the encouragement and the love that accompanies this act of obedience.

Who is a candidate for baptism? If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior your next step is to follow the example of Jesus and be baptized. He modeled the way of humble submission—when as the Son of God—He insisted on being baptized by another. Baptism identifies you with God’s forever family of faith.

“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38

What happens if a believer is not baptized? You don’t miss heaven, but you miss the blessing of hearing your Heavenly Father say, “This is my child in whom I am well pleased.” Baptism brands you a Christian—a follower of Jesus Christ. Your public display of gratitude and glory to God will help another make a private commitment to Christ. It is a formal declaration of your dependence on Jesus for grace and forgiveness.

A house of faith is a home where the father takes the lead and models baptism to his spouse and children. Jesus was an adult believer when he announced His allegiance to Almighty God. In most cases, as the father goes in his commitment to Christ, so goes the family. Baptism is not to be taken lightly, as your Lord Jesus took it very seriously. So, seek out a trusted church and publically display your death to self, and new life in Christ.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” Acts 16:29b-33

How can I value and celebrate baptism with my Lord, my family and my friends?

Related Readings: Matt. 3:13-17; Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:11-13; Galatians 3:26-28

Post/Tweet this today: Baptism identifies you with God’s forever family of faith. #baptism #obedience

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Having no struggles at all will never happen in this lifetime. Non-existent struggles are not possible, until you graduate to heaven’s struggle-free environment with your Savior. The nice and the naughty alike struggle, though outwardly they may seem void of vexation. The righteous and the wicked both struggle to varying degrees. No one is exempt from struggles.

Yes, there may be seasons of minimal conflict; however struggles are on the way. You are either struggling, about to struggle or have just finished struggling. Indeed, everyone from monks to the mafia struggle. Therefore, don’t spend your life trying to insulate yourself from struggles. Instead, prepare spiritually for the snares of an unseen enemy.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

You will stress out more from trying to avoid struggle, than you will from accepting its reality. This is not to say God would have us solicit struggle into our lives. But He does understand that struggles are meant to send us to Him. Struggles look for a Savior, and Jesus is our friend in our fight against those struggles.

Furthermore, envy can erode your eternal perspective by giving you a false impression of others who seem to live life without struggles. This is inaccurate and ill conceived. No amount of money or power can completely drive struggle from someone’s life. In fact, it may compound struggles because of the complexity of choices that wealth creates.

Someone’s large amount of discretionary time may, on the surface, make them seem like they are without struggles, but they are not. There are still the internal struggles of sin and self against God’s best. And there are the external struggles created by other people’s choices and circumstances that are out of your control. Accept struggle as the Lord’s way to grow you in His ways, for His glory. Struggles send you to pray for yourself and others.

Paul requested prayer, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30).

Who can I join in their struggle through personal and persistent prayer?

Related Readings: Genesis 32:28; Hosea 12:3-4; Philippians 1:30; Hebrews 12:3-5

Post/Tweet this today: Accept struggles as the Lord’s way to grow you in His ways. #struggles #growth

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Spirit-filled Christians have a craving for Christ—there is an insatiable desire for intimacy with their Savior. Activity and busyness, even for God, can taste like sawdust to the soul, but sitting at the feet of Jesus revives the spirit and satisfies our deepest longings to be known and loved by the Lord. Like water hydrates the body, only heaven hydrates the heart.

Our innermost being hungers and thirsts for spiritual food, but do we take the time to shop at God’s grocery store? Are we hunting for healthy soul food or we snacking at the world’s table with a diet that is detrimental to the eternal? Our Master Jesus has a menu made up of spiritual nutrients that nourish the soul. His filling food is accessed by faith.

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Just like the body routinely looks for three meals a day and plenty of refreshing liquids, so your soul yearns for spiritual sustenance. Without the required daily input of needed nutrition—the neglected soul starves for lack of attention. The diseases of discouragement, fear, unforgiveness and hopelessness attack and defeat the spiritual immune system of an intimacy deprived and sick soul.

However, you contribute to a healthy heart by designating a meeting place of prayer with God. Go there often and drink in the Lord’s love, forgiveness and wisdom. Feed by faith at the feet of Jesus at a smorgasbord with the secret sauce of a saved soul. Grace feeds the heart of a grateful soul that has been graced by God. Pain and conflict fatigue faith to the point of parched lips, but praise and worship to Jesus drinks from His deep well of glory.

Your God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is alive, ready and willing to fill your hungry heart with faith, and satisfy your thirsty soul with eternal security. Heaven always prepares a delicious meal that is beautifully presented in prayer. Wake up and worship the Lord—mid-morning, snack on Scripture—listen to the Lord at lunch—mid-afternoon, meditate on your blessings—at dinner discuss His faithfulness—and thank Him as you retire in the evening. A soul nourished by God meets with God and is eternally satisfied.

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84:2

Lord, how do you want to nourish and feed my soul with Your heavenly banquet table?

Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 15:12; Isaiah 61:10; Mark 12:30; Luke 1:46

Post/Tweet this today: Like water hydrates the body, so only heaven hydrates the heart. #prayer #heaven

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God is your source of strength. Other sources will run dry, or lose their effectiveness. Strength outside of God is temporary at best, and cannot be depended upon. You may find strength for a while through your sheer determination and will power, but eventually, your own efforts will dissipate in power. A life striving in self-directed strength will expire without an ongoing infusion of the Lord’s strength. He is our life, yet we sometimes neglect our built-in energy source.

Sheer busyness or fear may have caused you to unplug from your eternal source of strength. Your faith doesn’t need to remain impotent. Indeed, by faith you can plug into the socket of your Savior Jesus. He has been there all the time. Though your life may have been on an excursion away from eternal interests, now is the time to reconnect with God.

Do not allow the cares of this world to choke out the hope you have in Christ. You can find strength in Him, without having to look far at all. Sometimes we search for strength in all the wrong places and then sheepishly come back to God. There is no need to circumvent Christ. You can’t improve on Jesus. Fall at His feet, and He will pick you up and fill you with His power.

The power of God is unparalleled in conquering fear and discouragement. You may have lost a loved one through death. Their influence in your life was immense. You will miss them sorely. Their faith was a rock of reassurance for you. But, now is the time to tap into the same strength that caused the faith of your friend to flourish. When you dig down deep with the Lord, you do not come away empty. He fills you to the brim, even to overflowing!

God is your burden-bearer and your strength-giver. Do not neglect to allow His Spirit to ignite your strength to love. Ask Him to enlarge your heart of love, so that He can love more through you. God takes your almost empty heart and fills it fully with His strength. This is the paradox of His power: Your weakness and emptiness mean that you have depleted self and are now in a position to be fully filled by Him. Ironically, now you are in a position of strength.

This is how God works. He empties us of ourselves, so that He can fill us with Himself. So, your tentative and weak state is really to your advantage. Humility and even fear position you to be strengthened in the Lord. Therefore, stay in the Lord. Moreover, He gives you strength so that you can do the same for others. Your newfound strength in Him is not meant to remain sterile—rather, it’s meant to be viral.

Your strength in the Lord is for the sake of others. God’s strength is meant to be unleashed. It is designed to serve the destiny of others. There are weak people all around you who are vulnerable to preying imposters of the faith. It is your authentic strength of character, residing in Christ, that is attractive to them. They discern this in you and desire to be strengthened by the Lord. So, allow them to lean on you for a time. Your being there for them is like a blood transfusion of God’s strength. Their faith has become anemic through adversity, and God is using you to build up their eternal immunities. Strength in the Lord provides energy into eternity. Tap into it daily, for your sake and for the sake of others!

Taken from Dose 82 in the 90-day devotional book, “Infusion”… http://bit.ly/bQHNIE

Post/Tweet this today: We empty ourselves, so that He can fill us with Himself. #strength

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