By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Jumping In With Jesus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water!  What prevents me from being baptized?'”
Acts 8:36 English Standard Version

Why is Pastor Josh about ready to get dunked?  Because he had agreed that if the children at Vacation Bible School raised $1000 for missions, he would take the plunge into the water in the dunk tank.  And they eagerly raised the money!

The Bible verse above is the climax to the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.  The Holy Spirit told Philip to go into the desert.  There he met a man from Ethiopia who had never heard about Jesus.  When Philip told him that Jesus was the Son of God who had died for the sins of the world, the Ethiopian believed in Jesus as His Lord and Savior.  And when they passed a place with water in the desert, he said, “See, here is water!  What prevents me from being baptized?”

When people hear the Good News about Jesus, the Holy Spirit works faith in their heart.  They repent of their sins and want to be washed clean in baptism for the forgiveness of their sins.  That day the Ethiopian took the plunge to put his faith in Jesus as Lord and to follow Him.  And we believe that this newborn child of God went back to Ethiopia and spread that Good News of Jesus to the people there.

Have you taken the plunge to put your trust in Jesus, to be washed in His blood for the forgiveness of your sins?  Do you live daily in that Good News of the forgiveness of Jesus?  Do you tell others about the new life that comes in Jesus Christ?  May the Holy Spirit move you to trust in Jesus Christ and follow Him wherever He may lead you.  His Good News is for you, too!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado