THE WATER OF REBIRTH

On July 1, 2006 we choose this item for our journal, written by Jerry from Titus 3:3,4,5. " Paul, in verse 3, tells Titus of the kind of person he was before his encounter with the risen Lord.  Paul said, 'I was foolish, disobedient, and led by passions and pleasures.' In verse 4, 'But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us not because of any works or righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.'


"These words of Paul demonstrate that no sinner is beyond salvation by the water of rebirth. Sin is washed away from the past and we are reborn into a new life.  All this is only by the grace and mercy of God when we come to God on our knees and repent.  There is nothing that we can do to earn it through brownie points or good works.


"Jesus came to set me free from the burdens of past sin and to make me a new creation.  He washes away greed, envy, jealousy, discrimination, hatred, anger, etc.  In Christ, I became a totally new person...unbelievable, but true.  Lord Jesus, I praise you for the water of rebirth that gave me freedom and new life in you.  Amen."


Even with childhood baptism we are forgiven.  For what, you might ask? I believe we are forgiven at baptism for the sins of the world that invade us as children and hang on right through adulthood.  Children lie.  I did.  "No, I didn't glue my sister's curls to her head!" Saying this to my mother with the glue stick in my little fist.  "No, I didn't bite my brother." But the teeth marks were on his back. My parents worked hard to get me to be truthful, and when I was older, I was truly sorry for hurting my brother and  being naughty with my sister's hair. It was already in me to be sorry. But it was not in me to care enough to not hurt or be mischievous in the first place. The truth of showing love to others had to be learned and how to be loving came from others showing love to me. Jealousy lived in me.  Anger lived in me. And it had to be invited "out."  But children learn kindness and love by those around them. And they learn that Jesus loves them through it all.


Thank you, Lord, for the forgiving spirit you taught my parents, and later on, to me and my family.  Praise you, Jesus, for being the Lord of our Lives.


And yours, too, I pray!
Jo INMN