Do you remember your baptism? Have you been baptized more than once? Have you felt the presence of the Holy Spirit? Have you felt a strange warming in your heart? Have you been baptized by fire? Do you want to be baptized by fire?
Baptism can be a tricky subject among Christians. Some believe in infant baptism and others don’t. Some believe the only valid baptism is full immersion, while others believe sprinkling or pouring is just as acceptable. Some believe a person should only be baptized once, while others believe being baptized multiple times is fine.
No matter where we fall in these beliefs, it is more important to believe God’s grace covers our failures. I honestly doubt any one of us is 100% correct. Some of us may be correct in some things while others are correct in others. It is unfortunate that we too often adhere to manmade rules rather than following the example of Scripture.
John the Baptist speaks of the baptism he is performing versus the baptism coming through Christ. Christ’s baptism would not only come through the Holy Spirit but fire as well. Now, let’s not think it is literal fire, though the apostles certainly experienced it on Pentecost. Our baptism by fire comes typically through trials.
Our trials reveal and confirm our belief and trust, or faith, in Jesus Christ. It is often through trials that our faith is increased. We experience God at work in our lives. It is by going through the fire of trials that we gain a better picture of God working in the world.
I pray we all hold onto our faith during times of trial. I pray we trust in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I pray each one of us knows that baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a gift from God. Hold onto your faith. Trust the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a gift from God.
Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Marty Pressey 