Has Anyone Caught It from You?

I recently had the great privilege of baptizing Coach Jim Drewry. Coach Drewry was saved many years ago, but he had never followed the Lord in baptism. I went by his home and talked with him about baptism, and he told me that it was something that he wanted to do right away. I told him that what he needed to do was to come on the invitation some Sunday, and we could share this with the entire church. He said that he would prefer to do that some Sunday night, but that he had an obligation on the next Sunday night. He and Edna were going to Oakland Baptist Church in Corinth to see their granddaughter Lauren be baptized. I told him I thought that was what he ought to do and that he could come on the invitation in our church the following Sunday night.

So, on the following Sunday night, Coach Drewry came on the invitation to let our church know that he wanted to be baptized. It was a great way to end our service that Sunday night.

The next day Coach Drewry called his kids to let them know of his decision and that he was going to be baptized. When he called Barry, he asked to speak to Lauren. When he told her that he was going to be baptized just like she had been baptized, she was very excited. She gave him a few pointers on how to do it, and then she asked, “Papaw, I’m glad that you’re going to be baptized. Did you catch from me?” He said, “I think so, Lauren. I think I caught it from you.”

That’s a great thing to catch from someone—especially from your granddaughter. What we all need to do is try to get others to catch it from us. We need to pass it on. Samuel Shoemaker said that with the water of life we are pipes and not buckets. We are not repositories of the faith; we are conduits who are commissioned to pass it on.

Passing it on begins with our being genuine in our relationship and our fellowship with the Lord. We are to model the life of Christ to others. One actress was asked if she objected to being imitated by other performers. She answered, “Only if they do it badly.” I wonder what Jesus thinks of our efforts to model His life to the world? I am afraid that many of us do it badly. If our words are going to have an impact on people, then they must be backed by the witness of our lives.

A family in a small church prepared to host a visiting preacher in their home. As his parents made preparation, their teenage son was a bit resentful. He said to a friend, “You would think that the Lord Himself is coming.” During the days that the visitor stayed with the family, he modeled love and personal interest in everyone he met. At the end of the week, the teenager said, “I think the Lord did make a visit to our home.” What would he have said if you were the guest in the home?

It’s important to do more than talk about our faith. We have been called to live out genuine faith and commitment. When we do, perhaps others will catch it from us.