Can you still be a parent without vinyl decals on your back windshield depicting each kid you have? Can you still be married if you don’t wear a band on your left ring finger? Can you still have a degree without displaying a framed diploma on your office wall?

I don’t think many folks would contest that the above answers are all yes, although some may be sillier examples than others. Still, I think such contemporary, outward displays of our life choices can help us better understand baptism. (Speaking of which, our annual river baptism and anniversary celebration is next Sunday. This year is particularly wonderful, because it is Crossroads’ 10th anniversary, and dozens of folks are planning to be baptized; what an exciting time!)

At Crossroads, we believe that baptism is vitally important. Granted, there is nothing extraordinary about the Bosque River (Amen?!), or the tap water in the baptistery (That’s the bathtub thingamajig behind the stage that we never use because everyone wants to be baptized in the river), or even someone’s swimming pool, like we’ve done in the past … it’s all just plain ol’ water.

What’s important is the choice to share your faith in a public way. Baptism itself is not a magic formula, but it is an expectation after you make a decision to follow Christ. When a couple exchanges rings at their wedding, there is an understanding that they are not ashamed to be associated with each other, so they wear the rings proudly. When we follow Jesus’ example to be baptized, we are showing our partnership with his death, burial and resurrection.

Jesus even commands us to baptize one another (see Matthew 28:18-20), so you could feasibly avoid it, but doing so really boils down to an act of disobedience. If you have made a decision for Christ but haven’t been baptized yet, what’s holding you back? Let’s talk about it.

As parents, we love our kids & have their best interests in mind, even if it means saying no. Remember that when God doesn’t do as you wish.

Think about how delighted you feel to receive a handmade gift. Now, look at nature around you and imagine God saying: “I made it for you!”

What steps would you take for those you love? Think back to your life before you knew Christ. What changes can you thank him for today?

In Matthew 22:36-40, we are called to love God with all that we are& also love others around us. How can you live out that calling today?

Think of the most wonderful story of love/friendship that you’ve ever read, seen or experienced. Now, compare that to God’s love for you.

“Jesus loves me; this I know.” Let that sink in a while … do you know that you know that you know he loves you? He truly does!

How do you want people to remember your life story when the last page reads The End? You can’t edit the past, but you can write the future.

I received a kind compliment from someone about these posts, and she joked that if it were up to her to write a devotional on the fly each week, it would simply say: “Jesus loves you. The End.” We laughed about it then, but the more I thought about it later, I realized … isn’t that the point? Is there really much more that I could add to get the message across as clearly?

Sure, I can share a personal story here or there and try to help you learn from my mistakes or perhaps think of issues from a fresh perspective, but what it really boils down to is that God loves us, and we should love him back. While we’re at it, we should love others, too. (Check out Matthew 22:36-40.) In fact, the overarching theme of the whole Bible is God’s relentless pursuit of a relationship with us because he loves us so very much.

Do you realize that Jesus loves you more than Elvis loved peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwiches? He delights in you more than Liz Taylor over diamonds. He is more committed to you than Sam was to Frodo (not to mention that he trekked up his own version of Mount Doom on a quest to destroy our sins, once and for all). He endures more drama in your life than Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. His love lasts longer than Snape’s for Lily. He offers you a place in his tribe with immunity – and not only to survive, but to have a life that thrives! He doesn’t care about the world’s applause; you take center stage under his spotlight. Think of the greatest love story, the heartiest friendship, the most selfless sacrifice, the farthest come-from-behind victory … Jesus’ love for us tops them all.

In the words of one of the greatest adventures ever told: “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.”* Christ is so madly in love with us that he prioritized our needs above his own life. Not only did he go to the cross in our place, but he also promised to come back for us! (John 14:2-4)

What more is there to say?

Jesus loves you! The End.

*(Brownie points if you knew the quote from The Princess Bride!)

What did you learn from your parents that shaped who you are today? What can you learn from the examples of Jesus’ disciples, also?