Mark 1:1-11 New International Version (NIV)
Never compromise your IDENTITY for the sake of others. Do you know what your mission or purpose is in life? How can a parent be certain that their teen will not venture from the path of holiness? Is your teenager or young adult having an identity crisis? Are you wavering in your beliefs? An identity "crisis" may occur when one does not have a strong sense of who they are. An identity crisis happens to some adolescents who do not accept the values handed down by his or her parents. Some adolescents remain in a permanent state of crisis. Some adults remain in a permanent state of crisis. In order for the teen to have a strong identity the parent/guardian must have a strong identity. So what is a strong identity? The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines Identity as the distinguishing character or personality of an individual. So what is your distinguishing character trait, the one trait that describes you as a person? Being a strong, committed Christian can help prevent an identity crisis from occurring in one’s life. It can provide you with guidelines, a mission or purpose and love. BIBLE stands for “Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth”. A most important rite of passage of your Christian walk or journey is to become baptized, born again or dedicated to God. When we have a sense of IDENTITY the choices and decisions made in our life become clearer. When we are baptized we realize that we are A CHILD OF GOD always, once baptized there is no need to be baptized again. People say “I am married” to describe their relationship status, as we should say, “I AM BAPTIZED”, not I WAS baptized, to describe our relationship with God. We become a member of the family of God, receive the Holy Spirit, our faith is strengthened, and we become a child of God when we are baptized. If we understand the meaning and value of Baptism we know our IDENTITY.
In the following scripture, John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River, and a dove descends from heaven with a voice saying “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” John the Baptist was one of the greatest prophets, a servant of God. The descent of the dove symbolizes anointing by the Holy Spirit (Christ is Greek for “the Anointed One”), and the beginning of His mission to share God’s message of love and forgiveness (mercy) with all. Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of His earthly ministry and confirms his IDENTITY as the Son of God. This purification by water was not intended for repentance for Jesus, but rather a designation of Jesus’ role to be the Messiah and the Savior for all. Jesus, being God incarnate, was the sinless Son of God, He took upon Himself your sins and my sins, and the sins of the whole human race.
Do you know the date of your baptism? Remember your baptismal date, the date of dedication, the date you were born again as special as you treat your birth date. Stay committed to your Baptismal promises and committed to being a Child of God and you will never have to suffer through an IDENTITY CRISIS. Reject worldly desires, live justly, live by the Word of God, serve others as Jesus did, and be a faithful witness of Christ. if we don't have God at the center of our lives we will be constantly tempted and influenced by worldly desires. As Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) tells us, “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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 1:1-11 New International Version (NIV)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”