He is LORD

Today was Baptism Sunday.  Baptism--the public declaration that one has accepted Christ.  Every church family performs baptism differently--there is the forward dunk, the three-times dunk, the baptisms in the ocean at sunrise, and the baptisms in a chilly pool behind the pastor's podium.  Regardless of how they do it, baptisms are always a celebration.  Our church happens to make baptisms a huge celebration.  While we worshipped God through song, prayer, and communion, we witnessed several people of all ages declare their love for Christ.  After each declaration, the church family whooped and hollered, clapping their praise for each celebration.  At one point I broke down in tears because I stood still for a moment and took it all in.  Hundreds of voices singing praise to Christ while we watched men and women profess their faith.  Our praise and joy was for Christ.  Our celebration and joy came from Christ.  Our support and encouragement for each of them was because of Christ.
The sermon before this big Baptism celebration was about Jesus Christ and who He was.  Why do we learn about Him?  What impact did He have on the world?  Why should we care about this carpenter, a Palestine, who lived so long ago? 
Jesus Christ is the reason for it all.  He is ALL.  Without Him, we are nothing.  We have no purpose, no reason, no direction.  He IS.

Walking away from the front doors this morning, I realized how often I put Jesus in my pocket.  I make Him convenient, pulling Him out only when I feel the need.  I accepted Jesus into my heart at five years old.  I was baptised as a young teenager in front of my church family.  Since then, life has come my way.  I've walked the narrow road.  I've walked the wide and easy road.  But the whole time my Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit have been by my side.  Who am I to put Jesus in my pocket?  Who am I to ignore His voice?  Who am I to make decision on my own?  The answer to all those questions is I am nobody without Him.

I'm rambling a bit, I realize that, but I'm overwhelmed by what I witnessed today.  Since losing Jesse's dad, I've tried making my life count more than it ever has.  Gary Timothy Field was a man who understood who Jesus was.  Every day was a day he wanted to live like Christ, for Christ.  His life was a testimony to his faith, and everyone who knew him knew that there was something very special about him.  That specialness was Jesus Christ.  We miss him, oh how we miss him.  But he left us a wonderful gift--an example of how we should live our own lives.  He lived like every day was a sermon of Jesus' sacrifice.  He lived like every day was his baptism day--his public declaration that He loved Jesus Christ.