Pastor’s Email College Devotion
The Week of Pentecost 19
October 4, 2015
Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, NRSV)
Do you remember your baptism? Most of you don’t because you were baptized as a baby. But one of two of you may, since you were baptized as an older child or teenager. Today in church we heard a lot about water. The waters of the Nile from which the baby Moses was rescued from certain death to become the person who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. Thus, we had two baptisms at our 10:45 traditional service.
Even though you don’t remember your baptism, you celebrate it every morning in two specific ways. When you arise from sleep (however little you may get), you arise from death to new life in Martin Luther’s words about Baptism and the gift of sleeping and waking. And each morning that you wash your face at the sink, you re-affirm your baptism with these morning baptismal waters. So whether you think you are a religious person or not, God invades your life with a word of grace in both of these actions.
Let us pray … Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit, and breathe new life into those who are baptized. By your Spirit adopt us all as your children, through our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
