Mark's Blog

Dear Grandkids,

Mimi and I really love you guys! I think you know that!  For the last thirteen years (since Cassie was born), we have watched you grow out of your diapers, learn to walk, to talk, to sing and play. We’ve watched you lose teeth, get braces, be in musicals, play sports—so many great times together! And don’t forget Grandkids Camp!!

Now some of you are old enough to make your decision to be a disciple of Jesus—to be a Christian.  Just last Sunday, two of you boys were baptized—and that followed a happy Wednesday when one of you girls was baptized!

It’s not the right time yet for all of you. Some are still thinking and some are too young to even know what baptism is about.

Grandad would just like to write this letter to all of you, those baptized already and those who will be.  These are just a few things I really want you to know about your baptism that I’ve been thinking about.

First, never forget your baptism. Some people forget they were baptized and act like they weren’t. It doesn’t make any sense—like playing in the mud, then taking a bath and getting all clean, then putting on your muddy clothes again!  Jesus’ disciple Peter wrote that it is like—this is really gross—a dog that eats its own . . . vomit (2Peter 2:22). Don’t forget how great it is to be clean!

Second, don’t worry about what you don’t know. Some people might think you are too young to be a disciple of Jesus. They might think you have to know more about God.  Don’t worry about them. People in Jesus’ day didn’t understand either how much Jesus loved children.

But what’s even stranger is that in 5-10 years when you are older, you yourself will start to think, “I was so young; I really didn’t know very much about Jesus or about how to be a disciple. Maybe I was too young and did not know enough to become a disciple! Maybe I should be baptized again.”

Let me tell you something you won’t know for 50 years! When you are a Grandad or a Mimi, you will look back and think, “I really haven’t ever known much about God” because we always continue to learn and grow and figure things out until the day we die.  God and Jesus are so awesome that no one can learn everything about them, even if they studied every day of their whole life.

So it is not really about what you know, nor is it about how much you feel love and devotion towards Jesus—because both knowledge and love should continue to grow in you every day of your life.  Your baptism marks the beginning—a wonderful beginning!

Third, remember Who did what!  Yes, you learned about Jesus and you decided to be baptized, BUT, this isn’t what makes you a Christian.  It’s a good thing you did to be baptized, but if God had not loved you first and sent Jesus to die for you, you would have gotten all wet for nothing!  Your baptism is a happy day for you! It feels like your birthday and everybody is happy for you!  That’s why it is easy to forget that God, not you, is the One doing the most important thing—something you could never do! He is washing away your sins, giving you the BEST GIFT, and adopting you into His Family—forever!

Fourth, don’t forget the Gift you received. When I was a young boy, the preachers would talk about the Holy GHOST, and that sounded spooky. Now we say the Holy Spirit.  I didn’t know much about the Holy Spirit when I was baptized.  In fact, I’m still learning a lot, but I’ve never forgotten that when I was baptized, God promised to give me a special gift, something that is His. He gave me—and He gives you—his very own Spirit—which is VERY holy—to live in you.  I don’t know how He does this—but I know it’s true!

It is His Spirit in us who helps us pray and who makes us grow. The results (fruit) of the Holy Spirit that God gives you when you are baptized are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.  You can have this beautiful fruit basket in your life because God’s Holy Spirit is His special gift to you at your baptism.

Fifth, don’t forget your Family. When you were baptized, God did some math on you! Yep, he “added” you.  The Bible says he “adds” everyone who is baptized to His family. On earth, this family we call the church. You may get the impression that people just join churches that they like, but that’s not really true with God’s church.  You can’t join God’s church without God’s writing your name down in His book.  This is what He does when He washes away your sins and He gives you His Spirit. Your name goes right into His family Book along with everyone else whom He adds to His family.

So don’t ever get the idea that Church is not that important! If it were not important, would He add you to it, would He give His life for it?  God’s family—and that is you when you are baptized and He writes your name down and adds you to all the other children of God, all of Jesus’ brothers and sisters–is very important!

Sixth, don’t stop talking about what God has done for you. When Mimi and I got home from our trip last week, the first thing you told us was that you were going to be baptized! I heard that some of you told your teachers at school and your friends as well. Of course you did! It’s such a happy time!

And when you were standing in the water, just before your baptism, I heard you say in front of lots and lots of people, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”   You’ve already started talking about Jesus! Don’t ever stop!

Last, remember that your baptism is a death, a burial, and a resurrection. Jesus died for you because He loved you. When you are baptized, you choose to let the part of you die that wants to be selfish and just do whatever you want to do. You let that part die.

Then someone buries you in the water just like Jesus was buried. If you had been left under the water, it would have been bad just like if Jesus had been left buried, it would have been bad for us.

When you come up out of the water, it is like the moment when Jesus came out of his grave! Wow! He was alive again! He was never going to die again. The same is true for you! It’s like being born again as a new person, one that will live forever with God.

The Very Last Thing: As you grow older, you’ll start shaving and then you’ll need glasses someday, and then a long time from now your hair turns gray and you might even be a Mimi or Grandad yourself.  Don’t ever forget your baptism—and don’t ever stop telling people what God did for you on that very special day!