As studied yesterday, the leader with whom someone is baptized into him/she and his/her leadership commands great respect from the followers. Both the leader whose personality the followers are baptized into and the leadership he/she exhibits ought to carry same believe, same doctrine, same spirit and carry out same function as approved by the ethics and norms of the leader leading. Anything done differently can be interpreted as against the Laws. This was what happened between Moses and the Israelites in their good olden days before they turned their hearts and minds to idols of their neighbours. Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 10: 4 that in the Old Testament period the Rock that brought water for the Israelites to drink was Jesus Christ. Though the Israelites followed Moses as their leader to the Rock’s place physically, they were following Moses to Jesus Christ Spiritually. This means the Rock was Jesus.
Apostle Paul’s connecting the rock to Jesus Christ should remind Christians that we are all followers of Christ, and are baptized into Him and His leadership. As said earlier, agreeing to be baptized into someone and his/her leadership should make the followers do all the leader wanted them do obediently and faithfully. When this is genuinely carried out, we Christians who profess being baptized into Christ should have no alternative option but to be seen eating from the same spiritual foods given to others and drinking from the same water of life. It will look arckward when Christians are seen feasting on the things of the world, drinking from the sinful cups of the world as well as going after the idols of the world. It is worthy to note that when the Israelites moved out of the circle of the “baptized into Moses and his leadership”; they began to involve themselves in idol worships, celebrating and feasting with the pagan as well as engaging themselves in sexual immorality as some of the pagans did; God counted it a sin against them.
In every circle of leadership, the led are provided with rules and regulations which guide the followers. Those who would break the laws are met with regrettable consequences. For the Israelites in the journey through the wilderness where they were given water from the rock, about 23, 000 died in one day by committing sin of immorality (1 Cor. 10: 8). If Christians know they are baptized into Christ and His leadership, they ought to be practicing righteousness and other works of virtues He was known for. Agreeing to be baptized into Christ and His Leadership and agreeing to put Him into tests by doing the wrongs things worldly people do might result to some calamities in life as God’s ordained punishments. In this note, we might accept that the of evils rampant in the world presently as curses for our consistent godless lifestyles. How will it be, if about 23,000 people are dying in every community daily!!
PRAYER:
FATHER LORD, keep me above sins of rebelling against the commandments of Heaven by making me steadfast in obeying all that Jesus wants me obey.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch