Monday, June 17, 2014
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ...
INTO HIS NAME
When a child is born, he is born into a name, usually that of his father. It is his "family name." So even if the parents have not yet chosen a "first name" for him, a hospital will not hesitate to label his crib: "baby" followed by the family name. It is enough at that point to identify the new-comer.
When we were born again, by Baptism, we were born into another "family name." This time we were baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, the name of God. And what a name it is! The Scriptures are very clear: there is only one God! Yet when we were born again into His name, three distinct persons were named. During the coming week, we shall ponder those persons a little, but today simply thank God that He put His three-one name upon us!
When we were born into our earthly family, that family name meant that we had a home to shelter us, the family home. As we grew we learned that we did not have to knock to enter one particular home, our family's home. Because we were in that particular family, food given to that family was given to us. Our "daily bread" was provided through our family.
So also when were born again into the name of God, it meant that we had a heavenly home, and heavenly food. In His family we would find shelter from the stormy blasts of sin, lie down in green pastures, and dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
