Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Matthew 3:16-17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

YOU ARE BAPTIZED IN CHRIST: YOUR NEW LIFE IN HIM!

After His baptism, our Savior began a new life. A life tempted by the devil to forget God's plan. A life filled with hardships, sufferings, and mockery for the word He spoke. Sound familiar? We face similar challenges having been baptized in Jesus' name.

What kind of a beginning was your baptism? Was it a beginning of the struggle against the temptations of the devil to forget God's plan of salvation? Do you live in a life filled with hardships, sufferings, and resentment because you live in a world that resents followers of Christ? If this is the outcome of baptism, why even baptize? Titus chapter three declares, "According to His mercy He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

We can celebrate our Savior's Baptism and what that meant for His work--and what that means for each one of us. Through the blessings of our Savior's life, death, and resurrection, our Heavenly Father says similarly to you who are baptized into Christ: "You are My child whom I love, and because of My Son Jesus, I am well pleased with you!"

He that believes and is baptized shall see the Lord's salvation;
Baptized into the death of Christ, he is a new creation.
Thro' Christ's redemption he shall stand
Among the glorious heavn'ly band
Of every tribe and nation.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 301:1)