Baptism

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:16

When I met Jeff 16 years ago, we were both unbelievers. I had the advantage of knowing Christ, and being raised in a Christian home. Not that Jeff's home was bad in any way, he had two loving parents, but they simply did not practice the attendance of church on a regular basis. Before we were married, I remember my father at one point telling me that I needed to be the spiritual head of the family. I knew Jeff was my one and only, and I was prepared to take on that role to marry him. Fast forward 8 years, and God blessed us with a beautiful baby girl. At that time, I felt God nudging me back to church, and wanting to recommit to Him in my life. At this point, my marriage could have went one of two ways. Jeff could have told me, I am not going to church, I never have, and I do not ever want to. Or he could decide to attend with me. And I think we know, he picked the latter. We found Grace Gathering with many young families, and a pastor who Jeff could relate with on a personal level. We also met a couple who graciously took Jeff and I through a Seeking God bible study. At that point, I still was not sure where Jeff's heart was on accepting Christ. He struggled with waiting for that "a-ha" moment ... and when it never came, he wondered why? Then one Sunday he decided he didn't need that "a-ha" moment, and simply told God that he was His, and ready to do His work. Next, the natural realm of Christianity is baptism. Nope. Didn't want to. Didn't want to go in front of everybody. Didn't feel like he needed to. Knew scripture didn't mandate baptism. For awhile, I bugged (nagged?) him. I should know by now, that this is NOT the way to get Jeff to do something! You think I would have learned that with the marriage proposal! So for some time, several people in our house church, as well as me, have been praying for Jeff to take this next step of obedience to God. This morning - Valentine's Day - while I was dressing for church, Jeff casually mentioned to me, "If it makes any difference in what you wear today, you are baptizing me." Tears of joy and happiness. So Carlie, Lucy and I got to baptize Jeff today in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I am no longer the spiritual head of this household. If somebody would have told me that I would love my husband more today than the day we married, I would have laughed. But I do.