4 October 2005

We continue with Martin Luther on Baptism from Volume 35 of Luther's Works.

Faith means that one firmly believe all this: that this sacrament not only signifies death and the resurrection at the Last Day, by which a person is made new to live without sin eternally, but also that it is assuredly begins and achieves this; that it establishes a covenant between us and God to the effect that we will fight against sin and slay it, even to our dying breath, while (God) for (God's) part will be merciful to us, deal graciously with us, and - because we are not sinless in this life until purified by death - not judge us with severity (LW 35, p.35)

We trust that we are in the midst of it...that is...in the midst of the Reign of God as it is unfolding among us...not only that. We are an active part of that living Reign so that there is a witness in our world to something other than the brokenness that so easily becomes the pattern of our lives. Trusting in this baptismal promise, we take up another pattern for life that never ends. This means that in all of our days, we will trust that our God is the merciful God we have come to know and that we will be judged by this merciful God. Therefore, even as we are taken up by the sinful patterns of unfaith, we are always being pursued and welcomed by our God who makes covenants for life even when we try to run from them. Within that reality of our baptism, we are encouraged and strengthened so as to trust anew each day...as though the covenant is as new as the moment at hand. It is as the baptized that we are able to rest on our death bed and in that rest deny the powers of sin their victory for death has already been defeated - that is promised.

Connection: We will face many moments in our lives that will attempt to pull us away from trusting our God in all things. Then again, the promise is that our God will prevail among us and we can therefore rest...yes...rest....and begin to live the life we have been promised.

Within the blessed embrace of our baptism, O God, we begin to see this day in a new light. You have promised to be with us and lead us and we pray for the the courage to follow in the way of our Lord, Jesus. In the midst of the brokenness of our world, make us residents of your Reign and bid us to live as though your Reign brings us a new character in which we will encounter the days of our lives. Amen.