Here is water...

Father, your creation declares your greatness and lovingkindness, encouraging statements of pure truth in our daily walk... As a sinful people, when studying the Scriptures, one thing we quickly realize is that humble submission is a massive part of our faith journey. Truth be known, we must be humbled when we first choose to associate our lives with Jesus Christ in baptism; submitting to being buried in water into his death, burial, and raised up anew and forever changed in His resurrection. Yes, as a people seeking a more convenient way, we've figuratively "watered down" the Gospel by saying things like, "just pray Jesus into your heart and all things will be well" but that's quite simply NOT what the scriptures demonstrated by word and deed in the first century. Why didn't Phillip just have the eunuch pray "the sinner's prayer" to be saved? That's a good question, a logical question; but quite truthfully, it's not the pattern that was taught and set into motion in the New Testament. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized (immersed)?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized (immersed) him." (Acts 8:35-38) Thank you Lord for simplifying your words of life so that we can't possibly misunderstand unless we choose to do so… Thank you, Jesus, for showing us that you are the way, the truth, and the life; THE answer for those committed to seeking the truth in all things!