Made for More: 30 Days of Experiencing More Life, Love, and FreedomSample

Day 8: The Beauty of Baptism

Have you ever witnessed a citizenship ceremony? It’s powerful. Holy, even. You see men and women who have journeyed long and hard—most through suffering—and they finally get to step into something new, somewhere new, a new identity in a new place. They play a part in this great transition into all that’s new. They recite the Pledge of Allegiance, take the Oath, and often hear the national anthem. When it's over, the room erupts. Tears fall. Hands raise. Knees bend. Hugs are exchanged. Freedom is embraced.

The joy of that moment is more than legal—it's emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal.

Paul writes something equally profound in Philippians 3:20–21 (MSG):

“But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.”

As believers, we too experience a kind of citizenship ceremony—a sacred moment where we publicly get to make our pledge and declare our new allegiance: it’s called baptism.

The wild thing is, Jesus did it too. Not because he wasn’t a citizen already, for goodness sakes, He’s the King of the whole country, but because He wanted to show us how it’s done. I’ve always found Jesus’ baptism so moving, not just because He did it, but because what happened when He did. In Matthew 3:13–17, Jesus steps into the Jordan, not because He needed to repent, but to show us the way. And in that moment, heaven’s sound system turns on and the Father responds:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

What a moment. What a declaration. And what a gift for us to share in something so sacred.

Baptism is more than a religious act—it’s a spiritual milestone. It symbolizes leaving behind an old life, an old identity, and stepping into a new one. A new name. A new home. A new Father. It is an outward expression of an inward transformation—our identification with Christ and the life He gives.

Scripture speaks of its beauty and depth:

• Grafts us into Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 6:4)
• Marks our freedom (Romans 6:7)
• Washes and sanctifies us (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Ceremonies mark eventful transitions—graduations, weddings, dedications. But this one? It marks the beautiful moments when the Trinity is on full display, when both the Holy Spirit arrives, and the Father proudly declares,

“You are mine, and I am pleased with you.”

I remember my own baptism. It was June 1976. I was 12 years old, and I couldn’t wait. I had seen others do it, and something stirred in me. When it was my turn, I didn’t want that feeling to end. I remember wanting to take the water with me, even keep the towel as a keepsake. I didn’t understand everything, but I knew it mattered. And I knew I wanted to be closer to God.

If you’ve never been baptized, I encourage you—consider it. It’s more than symbolic. It’s sacred. It’s a ceremonial moment when the veil between heaven and earth feels thin. You feel the water. You go under. You rise again. And something in your soul says, “I belong. I am new. I am home.”

Baptism doesn’t make you perfect. But it does declare your desire: to walk with God, to follow Jesus, to be guided by the Spirit and to be fathered by the Father, and to live in the fullness of the Trinity’s love.

And that’s always worth celebrating.

As you reflect on all this with God today, consider asking Him:

Jesus, what are the days that mark our relationship? When were you initiating me or validating me and I didn’t see it?

Father, the words you spoke over Jesus, are those words for me too? How do you feel about me, Father? How do you see me?

Father, is there one phrase or sentence that feels like it’s just for me today? Would You help me hear it clearly and understand why it matters?