Dear Baptized Ones,

   This Sunday we will have the privilege of witnessing the baptism of Leila Rooks. What a joy it will be to see Leila receive this sign and seal of the covenant of grace, especially for the Rooks family as it will be Leila’s grandfather, Rev. Jim Whittle, who will be present with us to perform the baptism.

   Leila’s baptism will testify to God’s faithfulness to all who call upon Him for salvation by faith in Jesus. It will remind all of us that we cannot belong to the visible people of God except by receiving God’s reminder that we belong to His family only through the finished work of Christ to wash us clean of our sin. We receive these things as gift from our heavenly Father who loves us. So, while this baptism will not save Leila, it will remind her all her days of the privilege she has been given to be born and raised among God’s people. It will be a seal of God’s promise, true for her as much as for her parents and church family, to save her by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

   We also have the joy and privilege to improve upon our own baptisms as we witness Leila’s. If we come with eyes to see prepared by faith, we will see the great and awesome reality of our own status as washed-clean, forgiven saints who belong to the Lord.  So, let’s prepare by asking the Lord to make this reality more visible to us through this means of grace. Let’s come expectant that He will increase our joy, love, and hope in Him as we celebrate with Leila and the Rooks family. May the Lord make us more like Jesus as we see His faithfulness displayed in this means of grace!

In Christ,
Robby