Take the Baptism Plunge
Water changes things. Water can change you.
The polar plunge is an annual New Year’s Day tradition in Milwaukee. The water itself, apart from the frigid climate, scheduled on another holiday like July 4th, and performed all by yourself on a remote lake in the northwoods, wouldn’t prove to be as effective. But when you combine freezing temperatures, New Year resolve, and friends or loved ones running into the icy waters of Lake Michigan holding hands – that changes people.
Jim Stingl of the Journal Sentinel says that Milwaukeeans “frolic in the 30-something-degree water in our annual New Year’s Day ritual that says we’re tougher than winter around here and don’t you forget it” (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/36906624.html). So the polar plunge can make you a bit tougher. It can also prove your resolve. “Now I know he’s committed if he’s doing this with me,” Nicole Reed commented on a local news report about her fiancée from the Dominican Republic who took the plunge with her. Taking the polar plunge makes a statement that you are a person who is committed, despite circumstances that might scare others away.
The Bible tells us about a similar plunge that did not take place in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan but the flowing waters of the Jordan River. The baptism of Jesus made a statement of commitment that changes your life. The Son of God committed to a mission of humble obedience and mercy for sinners when he laid aside the fiery lightning bolts of power and vengeance, and walked into the water to be baptized by a sinner who wasn’t even worthy to unlace Jesus’ dirty sandals. God the Holy Spirit committed to tearing open heaven – at Jesus’ baptism and every baptism including yours – descending with heavenly gifts that equip believers for acts of faith and love. The Heavenly Father committed to his Son and to every one of his children baptized in the name of the triune God, “I love you … With you I am well pleased.”
Therefore, the baptism of Jesus revealed both a commitment of Jesus to the divine plan of saving sinners and a commitment of the Father and the Spirit to provide Jesus with everything he needed from them to accomplish that plan.
According to historical records, Milwaukee’s tradition of the polar plunge in Lake Michigan was initiated by three 21-year-old men who were interested in more than an isolated incident. New Year’s Day was only one of the times they plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan because they did it every Sunday throughout the winter, not just on New Year’s. Now that’s commitment!
Take the baptism plunge and be refreshed by God’s commitment to you. It changes you! Then realize that because of that change you can do what may have seemed scary or uncomfortable before. Recommit to your New Year’s resolutions with the regenerative power of baptism, because God gives second chances. Use your baptism to drown your fears about making that difficult decision to do what is right, and rise out of the water again with Jesus, ready to do the Father’s will. Practice your Christian priorities with your baptism that is always dying to the principles of this sinful world and living in the promises of God, who will never leave you.
Water changes things. The waters of baptism change you.
PRAYER: I wonder what those crazy people are thinking, Lord, plunging into freezing water when they could be so warm on a winter’s day. But a comfortable life isn’t always the best life. Jesus didn’t come to be comfortable, but to save sinners, to defeat the devil, to change the world. Come to me, Jesus. Come to me as you’ve promised in my baptism, to change me every day. Calm my fears. Be present in my confusion. Move me past my comfort zone. Bless me to be a blessing to others. Give me courage to keep my promises. Stay with me even in death. By your waters that have cleansed me from my old self, I am a new person and I believe in you. Amen.