Don’t you love the way it looks outside after it rains? It is especially pretty out in the country. The tree trunks become darker, more defined against the sky. The moss on their bark brightens up as it soaks in the water. It all reminds me of those paint with water pictures my children enjoy. The ones with the faded looking colors that magically brighten with the swipe of a cotton swab dipped in water.
Sometimes our lives also need to be washed with water to bring out our deeper colors. We may not even realize that our lives are a little faded, until God brings some rain into them. This washing can come in many forms. Sometimes it is the tears of grief that flow over our souls, bringing healing to our hearts. Some days it can simply be the awareness of grace that God showers on us to brighten us and in turn cause us to shower grace on others. We do not always get to choose how this cleansing will come, but we do know God is always with us even in the rain storms.
Baptism is one of the most beautiful pictures of this washing with water. Baptism itself does not save us, it is an outward picture of what Jesus has already done in our hearts when we accept Him. However, whenever we obey a command from Jesus there is a special blessing, a brightening, of our lives just like those paintings my children enjoy. I just love the picture of being buried with Christ, (going under the water) and being raised to new life with Him, (coming back up out of the water.)
Isn’t that awesome? Fresh, radiant life in Christ! We do not have to go through life living faded, boring lives. We can be washed daily in His grace and live exciting, vibrant lives in Him.
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:11
I just read an email from a family member that they were studying to prepare for Baptism. Then I read your blog! Then I sent it to my family!