Day 29—If you blink, you will miss it.

            Yesterday was a blessing for our family.  Two of my daughters, a niece (who feels like a daughter), and a niece's boyfriend (who I look forward to getting to know all the better) were all baptized in the same ceremony at church.  It brought me such joy.  Has your family been touched by baptisms?  Weddings are important, beautiful days.  How can you not love a wedding for two people who are meant for each other?  Yet, a wedding is only for a lifetime:  "until death do us part."  However, baptism celebrates a personal relationship that will last for eternity! 

            These are my last two daughters to give their lives to Christ and to be baptized.  One of them actually gave her life to Christ a couple of years ago, but we could never seem to get the right timing for her, the pastor, and other family members to work out.  The other daughter had been seriously considering this step for awhile but only very recently gave her life to Christ.  When this opportunity for baptism became available, we decided they should go ahead and get baptized even if everyone we wanted to be there could not make it on Sunday.  I am glad I got to be there.  Not every parent has the privilege of witnessing their children make a commitment to the Lord.  They will continue to need prayer as this decision and baptism does not mark the ending of a journey, only the beginning.

            What does the Bible say about it?  One spot where it is mentioned is the following:

            Matthew 28:19-20—"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

            Your Turn:  Have you made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ?  Did you manifest that decision with a baptism as a believer?  If not, you will not be able to lead your children on this journey until you do.  If you are not sure what I am talking about, pray that God will lead you to a church or individual who will faithfully lead you on your own journey to seek and find the truth.  If you have, remember, that as you lead, your children will not necessarily follow—or at least maybe not completely, right away.  You will have a great temptation to pressure your children to go through the motions of making a personal relationship with Christ.  Yet, if they have not done it on their own by their own decision, then they are wasting their breath.  Trying to please you by saying what you want to hear will not necessarily please God.  He wants the words to honest and true.  Otherwise the words "won't count."

            As you read this, pray now.  Pray for God to lead you into a personal relationship with Him if you do not already have one.  If you do, pray that you will be willing to continue to seek, follow, and obey Him.  Your journey is not over until the undertaker pronounces you gone.  Then pray for your children.  Pray that you will give them the words and examples they need to hear and see.  Pray that they each make his or her own choice to seek and accept a personal relationship with God.  (This does not mean I think children should get to make choices whether or not they attend church with the family.  At my house, that is the expectation for everyone.  Yet, what they do with what they see and hear at church is internal and cannot truly be dictated by any parent.)

            In general, baptisms are simple and quick—even with full emersions—because if you blink, you will miss it.  Even so, the blessing of a baptism of a family member can touch your family forever.

            If you would like more ideas on helping your children (and yourself) develop a Biblical worldview or to find out how to win a Wal-Mart gift card, go to the 31 Days Giveaway (Intro. Part II) post for more Touching Families blog links.  If you want to check out other 31 Days' topics, see The Nester.

*All verses quoted are from the New International Version:  THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.