Saturday, August 25, 2018
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved.
YOUR BAPTISM -- GOD'S GRACE PERSONALIZED
There are many benefits we enjoy from living in an era of advanced technology. One of the unfortunate side effects, however, is that our world seems to be getting more and more impersonal.
Our Lord understands this human need that we have of personal attention. It is true, however, that the Bible does not specifically say that God so loved (your personal name) that He gave His only-begotten Son. But in your baptism the Lord says just that! The Bible says that baptism saves us, because it is a blessed way that the Holy Spirit brings the Savior to the individual heart. This is the promise God gives in Baptism: "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).
The story is told of a conquering king who was leading a victory parade. As his carriage rolled along, his servants threw gold coins to the crowd. The happy citizens reached out their hands to catch the coins. All except for one, that is. This man, who did not feel that he had been a loyal supporter of the king, stood away from the crowd and hung his head. "Surely the king did not intend this gift for me," he thought. But the king, taking special note of him, sent one of his servants directly to the man. The servant pressed a coin into the surprised man's hand and said, "The king wants you to know that he intended this gift especially for you."
When your heart is weighed down because of your guilt, that is the time to remember your baptism. When your conscience accuses you, Satan would try to lead you to doubt whether the Lord really wants you as his own. At such a time you can give the devil this powerful answer: "I am baptized! The Lord Jesus sought me out to be His own, and conferred His forgiveness upon me by washing me clean with the power of His Word in the water!"
-- From the "Lutheran Spokesman"
