you would keep on doing it more fully.”—1 Thess. 4:1.

In view of all the foregoing, Are you a spiritual person? It is well if you can answer “Yes” to that question. Then the question remains, Could you be doing it more fully? If so, you and no doubt others will be happier if you do so!

Your Decision to Serve God

There is so much for which to thank and praise Jehovah God. He has mercifully made provision for us to enjoy eternal life. Already he has arranged to erase the death-dealing effects of sin by providing his own Son as a ransom sacrifice for obedient humans. God’s original purpose to have his earthly children enjoy a paradise home forever will soon be realized! Does not this loving provision of God cause your heart to overflow with thankfulness to Him?—John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-11.

True, none of us know everything about Jehovah and his ways. He is so great that humans will always be learning new things concerning him. (Rom. 11:33) But on the basis of what you already know, have you not come to appreciate that everything he does is right and that there is every reason to put full confidence in him? Are you not convinced that he truly loves his creatures, that he is merciful and gracious, yet, at the same time, perfect in justice and limitless in power and wisdom? Truly he is beyond compare! (Ps. 86:5, 10, 15) If this is the way you feel about Jehovah God, you will be moved to serve Him, and nothing will hold you back.

Two courses are open to all humans. One leads to death and the other to eternal life. God’s Word says: “I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the malediction; and you must choose life in order that you may keep alive.”—Deut. 30:19, 20.

Which course will you choose? Making the choice to serve Jehovah will lead to your greatest possible happiness, both now and forever. As the psalmist said: “Happy is the man in fear of Jehovah, in whose commandments he has taken very much delight.”—Ps. 112:1.

DEDICATION AND BAPTISM

When love for God moves you so that you want to do his will, then it is proper that you go to him in prayer through Jesus Christ and express your desire to be one of his servants, walking in the footsteps of his Son. It is appropriate that you tell Jehovah that you want to belong to him and that you want to do his will both now and for all time to come. (Ps. 104:33) In this way you dedicate yourself to God. This is a personal, private matter. Each person must decide for himself whether he will serve Jehovah. No one else can do it for you.

After you have made your dedication to Jehovah to do his will, he will expect you to keep it. It is no light matter even though expressed privately to him. You should prove that you are a person of your word by faithfully sticking to this decision or dedication as long as you live.—Ps. 50:14.

You can be sure that the Devil will use every possible means to make you break faith with Jehovah. The Bible describes the Devil as “a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” But Jehovah himself will be with you. You can always turn to him in prayer, and he will support you. Also, God has an organization here on earth, and here you will find mature Christians who will gladly give you loving encouragement and support.—1 Pet. 5:8, 9; 3:12; 1 Thess. 5:11.

Deciding personally to serve Jehovah and expressing this determination in prayer is important. But there is something more. This was shown by Jesus Christ, who provided a pattern for us to follow. Remember, Jesus did more than just tell his Father that he had come to do His will. (Heb. 10:7; Ps. 40:8) When he began his service as a preacher of God’s kingdom Jesus went to John the Baptist, at the Jordan River, and was baptized in water.—Matt. 3:13-15.

The Bible reveals that Jehovah God approved of Jesus’ baptism. It says that, on that important occasion, “the heaven was opened up and the holy spirit in bodily shape like a dove came down upon him, and a voice came out of heaven: ‘You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved you.’ Furthermore, Jesus himself, when he commenced his work, was about thirty years old.”—Luke 3:21-23.

Since Jesus set the pattern, dedicated Christians today also should be baptized. In fact, Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of people of all nations and then to baptize these new disciples. This is no baptizing of infants. It is baptism of persons who have become believers, having made up their minds to serve Jehovah.—Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:12.

What, then, does Christian baptism signify? It is not a washing away of one’s sins, because cleansing from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible explains: “By means of him [Jesus] we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”—Eph. 1:7.

So rather than being a cleansing from sin, Christian baptism is a public demonstration, testifying that one has made a solemn dedication to Jehovah God and is presenting himself to do His will. Thus, baptism is not to be viewed as of little importance. It is a requirement for all who obediently walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that, after his baptism Jesus “came up from the water.” He had been actually down in the water so that John could completely immerse him. The Bible also says that at a later time John “was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was a great quantity of water there.” (Matt. 3:16; John 3:23) So, baptism was no mere sprinkling with water.

Proper Christian baptism is accomplished by having a devoted servant of God—a male, as John the Baptist was—completely immerse the person in water and then raise him up again. If you have made up your mind to serve Jehovah and want to be baptized, then make this known to the overseer of the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses with which you are associated.