June 24, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, June 24.
Yesterday morning, at First Baptist Church of Center, Texas, we witnessed the most powerful testimony that anyone can give. We witnessed a baptism. In my faith, a baptism is not, in and of itself, a life-changing moment, but is a symbol of a previous life-changing moment - the moment of salvation. And in the moment of baptism, a new believer proclaims to their family, their church, and their world that they are a "new creation", that the saving grace of Jesus Christ has changed them and given them a new life, and life eternal. What a testimony!
We sang a testimony song in that service called "What He's Done" and it was, I think, an appropriate pairing with the baptism. Surprisingly, there are very few "baptism" hymns. Try to think of one! Well, here's one. It's called "Down in the River to Pray". It was written sometime during the mid-part of the 1800's, the author is unknown. It was popular in both white and black churches throughout the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. And then, in the year 2000, a Hollywood movie came out called "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Maybe you saw it. It's an interesting film, and it contains lots of great early American music, including this baptism hymn. The lyrics remind us of a time in our history when most churches didn't have indoor baptistries, as they do today. When it came time to baptize, they would "go down in the river"!
Here are some lyrics for you this morning . . .
As I went down in the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way
O sinners, let's go down, let's go down, won't you come on down
O sinners, let's go down, down in the river to pray!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
