The Joy of Baptism and Religious Freedom

Sunday was a special Palm Sunday for our family.  

It's been a joy to watch James's faith in Jesus grow, and he's been wanting to be baptized for awhile now.  He was baptized alongside people from the Philippines, Nigeria, and Syria, such a special picture of how God is saving people from every tribe and nation.  What a gift to celebrate this moment here with our Emmanuel International Church family.

  

I was especially moved after talking to someone who previously lived in a country too frightening for them to be baptized in, for fear of what retaliation might be taken by the government.  For those of us who have always breathed the air of freedom, how thankful we ought to be!  This dear person was so thankful to now be living in a place with religious freedom.  

Earlier in the week I'd read 1 Timothy 2, and I want to take Paul's admonition more to heart, because I want to be thankful for and keep living a quiet life with all godliness and dignity.  I want others to be free to live a life of dignity without fear, too.  Join me?