Baptism seals your entrance into God's Church

Today’s devotion is based the eunuch’s question to Philip as it is recorded in Acts 8:36, “What prevents me from being baptized?”
The man was on his way home. As he was riding, he was reading Isaiah from the Torah. He did not understand what he was reading, so Phillip explained how the part of the Torah he was reading spoke of Jesus. The man believed what Philip was saying. In the oldest manuscripts, it is recorded that Phillip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Phillip baptized him.

This incident on the road so long ago shows us that early Christian Church believed that it was essential to baptize those who wished to be Christian. Does this mean that you must be baptized to be Christian? Of course not, but it does show us the ancient custom of baptizing those who wanted to be Christian. This is what, when you examine the command to baptize all nations meant, entrance into God’s Church. Baptism is a gift from God, and something he commanded his people to do. Why would you not?

Please pray with me the prayer for today. Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you, Lord, for your baptism. Thank you for my baptism. Help me to live in that forgiveness, that I dare come to you every day with all my sins and leave them with you so can live in your presence. All praise and glory to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ​