Passage of the Day - January 14, 2013

Matthew 7:7-11

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? ¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Here is my prayer regarding baptism as I am praying it right now:

Heavenly Father, Source and Giver of all wisdom, I come to you with a heart that seeks to obey you and to honor you.  You have blessed me with four children.  I have been wrestling with the idea of infant baptism vs. believers-only baptism.  You have appeared to make it pretty clear to me that You have called my children into Your kingdom and into Your Church and I need to obey you in baptizing them.  Your Word shows that You love children and do not want any to be turned away.

I grew up in a family and churches that did not practice infant baptism.  Why am I sure that I am right on this and they are, in turn, wrong.  I do not consider myself to be as strong in the biblical teaching as they are, but then again, there are many who agree with me that are far stronger than those in my circle.  Obviously, these debate has raged for centuries, and I do wish the Bible was clearer on the matter, but You make things as clear as they need to be.  Perhaps it is my blurred vision that distorts the picture.  I pray that you will heal my spiritual blurred vision in this regard and others.

If I baptize my children, where should I do it?  Where should I continue to go to church in the short-term.  In the long-term?  I have almost done many radical things, but held back.  Usually, for the best.  Is this something that I have to move on?  Logistics doesn’t trump obedience, does it?  Yeah, I didn’t think so.  Help me to figure out the logistics and not rush into post-baptism commitments.

Thank you in advance for Your help and guidance.

In Jesus Christ’s name and for the sake of His Kingdom,

Amen

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)