By Joan Oliphant
“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” – Acts 10:47
Growing up, our house sat across the street from a meadow with a small creek that ran through the meadow. As a child, my siblings and I would enjoy an afternoon when we could swim in the creek and catch crayfish and minnows. As I became a teenager, sitting by the creek, watching the water roll over the rocks, was a place of solace where I would go to think and pray.
I still like to be near water, whether it is a serene lake, a rambling brook, waves crashing on the shore, or majestic waterfalls cascading over rocks. As I think about the peace that these places continue to bring, I am reminded that the most peaceful and calming waters are that of the waters of baptism, where we experience spiritual rebirth through the baptism, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit that unites us with other believers in Christ. As I spend time outdoors and enjoy the peacefulness of water, I am also reminded of the emphasis the Bible places on the Great Commission – to go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). So, we must be disciples of Christ, sharing the good news so that others may also experience the waters of baptism and receive the Holy Spirit.