"Being baptized by Jesus the Baptist will manifest itself in different people in different ways. In different personality types in different ways. In different cultural settings in different ways"
wow. I love this. I am a huge comparer and often I get caught up thinking I have to be like so and so in order to be a Christian, I have to talk and act like so and so to be a good driver, no one will love me unless I have the personality of such and such.
wrong. Being baptized by Jesus' living water does not make me like any other Christian ... it makes me myself! "The only common denominator is newness" and the newness I experience is not being made to fit a cookie cutter description of a good Christian or awesome Sonshine staff; the newness I experience is the awakening of the Emily God has created me to be.
His spirit breaths life into me and I discover that I am in fact fearfully and wonderfully made; uniquely created and uniquely loved.
Instead of trying so hard to be what I think I need to be, I let Jesus unleash his untamable, unsafe, and completely good spirit into my heart to mold me into the one He has created me to be. And I am reminded that the one He has created me to be, is the one Jesus loves.
Emily! I LOVE what you said about the unleashing of the unique person God created us to be as a product of baptism. I know I'm always in danger of trying to fit the perfect christian mold. Trying to be the perfect servant, the most wise, the most loving, the best listener which in themselves are good things but not if it becomes something Im using to prove to God that Im worthy of being his. AND I loved loved loved what you closed with that what is our true identity? The one whom Jesus loves. Thank you my friend.
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