My Son's Moment

Last night, I baptized my son!

Since the summer, Drew has studied and considered giving his life to God. We have read from the Bible together, and we have prayed together. He chose last night as the time to take this step.

As we stood in the water, I reminded him of the gravity of such a commitment. Jesus pulls no punches when he says, "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." We discussed what those words mean, and how we do those things.

It is a difficult road.

Following Jesus is hard.

Then we talked about how to respond when you stumble on that road. We read the peaceful reminder that the apostle John gives us, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

"I want to be baptized tonight," Drew said.

As a father, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and pride.

I also felt apprehension.

Drew's greatest struggles lie ahead of him. There will be mistakes made, falls taken, and temptations presented to lure him away from following Jesus.

Such thoughts remind me of some lines from a Rich Mullins song: "If I stand, let me stand on the promises, that You will pull me through. And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You."

Yes, Drew. Stand on God's promises. And when you can't stand, then fall on His grace.

Drew, you made the most important decision a person can ever make. I am proud of you! I love you with all my heart!

And I pledge to walk by your side as together we follow Jesus on this difficult road as father and son ... as brothers in Christ.