Move Disciples

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

What's the very first thing Jesus expects after someone says yes to following Him? It’s not a membership class or theological exam. 

It’s baptism.

Jesus barely gets the words "make disciples" out of His mouth before He speaks of it. That's not an accident. In the New Testament, every single person who decides to follow Jesus is immediately baptized. There seem to be few exceptions and no delays.

One of the details in this verse that makes it so striking is that "in the name of" comes straight from the world of banking. It literally means to transfer possession, or to put something into an account and hand it over completely. 

Baptism isn't just getting wet. It's a declaration that you now belong to someone. You've entered the family of the Father, through the sacrifice of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

That's why baptism is mentioned and modeled so frequently in the New Testament church. Baptism is the first public step of a disciple. It’s the moment you go on record that you're all in.

If you've trusted Christ but never been baptized, don't wait another week. Contact your church today and take that next step. It's not about the water. It's about Whose you are.

And if you have been baptized, let today be a reminder of what that moment meant. You were transferred. You belong to the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing that happens today, this week, or this year can change whose account your name is in. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You that I don't belong to myself anymore. Help me live like someone who has been transferred, and thank You that I’m fully Yours and fully home. Help me know what step I need to take next in my walk with You, and give me the grace and courage to take it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.