We have been buried with Christ 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
Dear Reformation,
Throughout the Easter Season we begin worship with a Thanksgiving for Baptism. We do this to be reminded that the blessing of God in baptism makes us one people in Christ, an assembly gathered to proclaim God’s love and to turn to our neighbors in service and love. Just as we come into the community of faith, the Church, by way of baptism, so too we come into worship by way of the font of living water.
For Christians, our primary identity is found and formed in baptism. We live each day as baptized children of God, aware of the daily dying and rising of our lives of faith in Christ.
It is an ongoing challenge for us to live our lives this way each day. Many Christians have found Martin Luther’s guidance in the Small Catechism to be helpful in meeting this challenge. Luther wrote: “In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say: ‘God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.’” And in the same way, in the evening, when you go to bed, repeat the same action and words.
There is nothing magical about this practice, but many people find that making it part of their lives every day helps them to remember throughout the day that they live each moment in God’s loving grace no matter what challenges they face and thus are continually renewed in Christ.
Yours in God’s Amazing Grace,
Pastor Wayne Matthias-Long