Each month I try to write a blog on who Jesus is in my life at the time and focus on an attribute that is very meaningful for me. Last month seemed to fly by so fast and I just had an overwhelming feeling of who Jesus was in my life and it literally changed daily. One day he was such a sweet rest, while the other, such a provider of strength. Finally yesterday, my whirlwind of emotions settled on one thing as I took some time to celebrate with some of the inmates: Jesus is my savior.
I know that this is an obvious one that everyone says, but it hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. Up until now, I have called my ministry one of discipleship. Now, this is a great word and great mission, but I defined it and went about it in a wrong way. I decided that evangelism was for a group of people, and I would be the one to follow up and take these new Christians to a deeper level. So, some people would take care of the masses and lead them to Christ, and I would follow up. Again, decent mission, but when I thought through this concept, I realized that I didn’t have a true love for the Gospel.
Over the last month, I have done nothing but preach the Gospel and Jesus as savior no matter if I was talking to people that had been Christians for years, or people that had never heard of Him before. When I sat back and thought about it, I realized that my love for the Gospel was growing. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to go and be a curbside prophet or street preacher, but the biggest way to make disciples is to remind them of the Gospel so they can remember their first love.
So, after preaching the Gospel nonstop, we had a time to celebrate yesterday. Yesterday, I had the joy and privilege of baptizing 14 inmates at the Malaybalay City Jail. The way we did it was a little unorthodox, but these men made their public declaration for Jesus in front of the entire jail. I know that there is a revival starting there and these 14 men will do a lot to spark it. After baptizing them, we challenged them with the Great Commission from Matthew 28 and told them that it was their turn to now go and make disciples. One by one the men walked up to our huge basin and immersed themselves, proclaiming that they were dead to their former lives, and were free in Christ.A few of these men are awaiting life sentences, while others are just waiting for their 60 trial period to be up so they can be realized. However, whether they’re inside that cell for life or nearing their freedom, they know they have a personal mission field. I’ve been preaching to their cell for several months now and I told them about the joy it brought me to baptize them. Furthermore, I told them the joy I would feel if I came back and the rest of the cell and the jail were baptized by those 14 men as they realized the power and authority they have in Jesus.
As we baptized each man, I was reminded of the Gospel in my life and how Jesus saved me from heading down the path I was taking. He has now brought me to great joy as I stood there and baptized each of these men. It’s not often that you can see the fruit of your labor, but every now and then, God gives us good gifts. After all, He is the perfect father…
