Today Daily Devotional

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.

— Revelation 13:1

In Revelation 4-5, the apostle John describes a vision of heaven. He sees God the Father on the throne, the Holy Spirit in the form of seven torches, and Christ as a Lamb, looking like it was slaughtered. In front of the throne is a peaceful “sea of glass, clear as crystal.” Around the throne, creatures representing all animal life give praise to God.

Later John sees the spiritual reality behind events that take place on earth. There a dragon, Satan himself, stands on the shore of a chaotic sea, which brings forth monsters that have “power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7). These beasts represent a world turned upside down from what God intended. God had created humans to fill the earth and steward it (including its animals) with his authority and care. But instead humans turned away from God and sinned, worshiping idols and degenerating into beastly empires, brutalizing other people and nature.

As John received these visions, the Roman Empire had begun persecuting the church. But although the empire had crucified Jesus, the Lamb of God, he had come back to life and had taken his rightful place as King of heaven and earth. Further, the Spirit of God was now living in believers, united with Christ in the waters of baptism. And the dragon knew his time was short . . . (Revelation 12:12).

Lord and King, you are alive, and you rule over all things. Come quickly, Lord, to bring your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

In [the ark] only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also. . . .

— 1 Peter 3:20-21

In our reading for today, the apostle Peter mentions Noah and the ark, which we discussed on October 4 (Genesis 8). Do you remember another story this month that also pointed to the ark? In Exodus 2 (Oct. 5), as you may recall, Moses’ mother places him as a baby in a “basket,” and the Hebrew word for that can also mean “ark.” Moses’ mother did this, in faith, hoping that her little boy would escape the murderous reach of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt (see Exodus 1:22).

In the New Testament, the apostle and fisherman Peter states that just as God rescued Noah and his family “through water” while other people were swept away in judgment, Christians are rescued from judgment by Christ’s death and resurrection, which is symbolized in baptism. If believers in Christ are symbolically rescued (like Noah and his family) “through water” (baptism), then what is the “ark”? What is the vessel of God’s rescue for us and indeed for the whole creation? It seems that this would be the church, the community of faith. Remember, baptism places us in the nurturing community of the people of God with its worship, prayers, sacraments, and fellowship. In this “ark” we are on the way to the resurrection and full life in God’s renewed world.

Lord, we praise you for the church, which, though it can be rocked by powerful winds and waves, is nonetheless piloted by you and is the place of your grace and salvation. Amen.

We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body.

— 1 Corinthians 12:13

How often should a Christian be baptized? Only once in life.

This is quite different from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus gave us for regular spiritual nourishment (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:2326). That’s because, in baptism, God (not us) is making the primary statement of grace and faithfulness. However, we can continually be reminded of our baptism through the baptisms of others, through worship, and even in a church building’s physical features.

In some medieval churches, for example, the baptismal pool was at the entrance to the worship area. Some pools were even made in the shape of a cross, since we are baptized into Christ’s death. Often these pools also had three steps going down into the water, signifying baptism in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a baptized person came up out of the water, they were also given a white robe to wear, a symbol of being clothed with Christ (see Galatians 3:27; Revelation 7:14).

When, as an adult, a person comes to faith in Christ, they are called to be baptized and to profess their faith publicly before entering the full life of the church—its fellowship, worship, and participation in the Lord’s Supper. In doing so, the believer commits to being one with Christ and with his people in the one body of Christ, the one family of God.

Lord, thank you for receiving us into your one covenant family through baptism. In Jesus, Amen.

All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.

— Romans 6:3

I have never been a “water person.” As a boy, I did not enjoy going under water, so water parks were not much fun for me. Even as an adult, when I am swimming in a lake, river, or ocean, I am always wondering about the creatures that are much more at home in those deeps than I am. . . .

When some religious leaders taunted Jesus, saying they wanted to see a sign proving who he was, he said that the only sign he would give them was “the sign of Jonah.” Jonah, we remember, had been as good as dead, for he was thrown into the chaotic sea and was then swallowed by a sea-monster. But God had the monster spew him out on dry land after three days (Jonah 1-2). Jesus then said he would be “in the belly of the earth” three days, referring to his burial in a tomb. When Jesus explained this to his disciples, he said he would “be killed and on the third day raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). And then later Jesus died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and on the third day rose to life again. He defeated sin and death for our sake so that we can have new life in him!

When a person is baptized in a pool or a lake or river, they go under water, picturing how, in Christ, our old sinful nature has died. Then they come up out of the water, showing how we rise to new life in Christ. And the renewed person is empowered to follow Christ in his mission.

Lord, thank you that in baptism we die and rise with you to live a new life. Amen.

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

— Acts 22:16

Earlier we talked about priests who had to wash with water, symbolically washing their sins away before they came into God’s holy presence in the tabernacle (Oct. 8). Because the seriousness of sin resulted in death, the symbolically purified priest would sacrifice an animal in the place of the sinful people. The priest would then sprinkle the sacrificial blood on the people to show that their sins were atoned for. Yet the priest’s washing with water and the sprinkling of blood did not actually take away the people’s sin (Hebrews 10:11).

By the Spirit of God, Isaiah prophesied about a dedicated, suffering Servant who came to represent God’s people and take their sins on himself, even though he was innocent of sin (Isaiah 49-50; 52:13-53:12). This Servant was Jesus, and he became the great, sinless High Priest who offered himself for the forgiveness of all of our sins, and spiritually covered us with his blood (Hebrews 8-10). Old Testament priests looked forward to the day when God would somehow deal with sin, and today we can look back to the cross of Christ Jesus. And all of this is symbolized when someone is washed, covered in the waters of baptism. The next time someone asks you, “When were you saved?” be sure to answer, “About two thousand years ago.”

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). Amen.

[Hannah said,] “I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”

— 1 Samuel 1:28

The story of Hannah and Samuel can help us understand the transition of identity that takes place in baptism. Hannah had not been able to bear a child, but she prayed, asking that if God would give her a child, she would give him to the Lord “for all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11). God answered her prayer, and she eventually brought her little boy to Eli the priest to begin his training in the service of the Lord. And Samuel served God faithfully for many years.

In a way like what Hannah did, giving up her beloved child to God’s service, in baptism we give children to be a part of Christ’s church and kingdom, in which we are called to serve the Lord. The child’s primary identity shifts to become part of the church, the family of God. In baptism, we recognize that the Lord claims and sets the child apart as his own. And the child is introduced to their new church family (which extends across history and geography). The parents or caregivers are then entrusted to raise the child in the Christian faith, with the church’s help.

Bringing a child for baptism is therefore a profound act of faith, because the child may be called to serve God in radical or even dangerous ways for Christ’s kingdom. Even so, the Spirit assures us that each one’s destiny is always in God’s hand (John 10:27-30).

Lord, thank you for calling us to be your own. We give our whole lives over to you, for you gave yourself completely for us. Use us for your purposes. Amen.

All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

— Galatians 3:27

Some Christian teachers have described baptism as a kind of “seal” that the Spirit of God places upon believers. Sometimes people say this is like a wax seal on a letter, identifying the sender and showing that it was sent by them for a purpose. The fourth-century church teacher Augustine used another analogy to understand baptism as a seal. He said it was like the sealing kiss at a marriage ceremony: witnesses are present, promises are made, love is declared, and all of that is affectionately summed up in a kiss. Many Christians throughout the centuries have also then asked: Will all who are “sealed” in baptism be “saved” in the end? Not necessarily. At weddings, love is declared and promises are made, but in some cases a marriage may fall apart. A pastor friend of mine describes the seal of baptism as something like a coupon: a customer must use the coupon to claim the value that is placed on it. God’s baptismal promises and his claim on us are sure and true, but the one who is baptized is also called to live into those promises and to claim that identity. Further, though a person can walk away from a relationship with Christ, we may never underestimate the love of Christ for that person. He promises to pursue his lost sheep, and his church is called to do that too.

Lord, thank you for your ever-pursuing love, your promises, and your claim on all who are baptized in the community of faith. Amen.

[Abraham] is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

— Romans 4:11

The water of baptism is a physical “sign” that points symbolically to the washing away of sin through the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is also a spiritual “sign” of the renewing work of God’s Spirit in our lives. So in the way we live, think, speak, and act it should be clear that, by the grace of God, we are different, set apart (“holy”). As a song puts it clearly, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”—of God and all people.

Water baptism, then, is really important. The sacrament of baptism is public and experiential, and it engages our imaginations. Further, when an adult or a baby is baptized, the congregation is asked to make promises to nurture that person in the faith and to help them as they follow God’s calling. Making these vows and seeing the ritual reminds us of the promises that were made over us at our own baptism, and the entire sacrament reminds us of the covenant promises of God.

A road sign is something that points beyond itself to a destination, and it guides all who see it. Baptism is like that, pointing the community of faith to the reality of God’s grace found in the saving work of Christ for us. It guides us in the life of faith until the day Jesus returns to renew all things.

Lord, we thank you for giving us the sacrament of baptism to remind us of the reality of your grace. Amen.

You were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him. . . .

— Colossians 2:11-12

God called his people to be distinct (“set apart, holy”) from other nations. That way, the other nations could see this blessed nation and be drawn to meet the one, true, loving God (Genesis 12:1-3).

Since the time of Abraham, God’s people were set apart by circumcision (of males, and usually as babies—Genesis 17:9-14). But that eventually led to a major question in the early church, as the Lord sent his renewed people, who were mainly Jewish, to bring the gospel to Gentiles and welcome them into his family. Did Gentiles have to be circumcised in order to be fully Christian? The early church eventually concluded, “No.” Since God was already accepting them through the Holy Spirit, they needed to be received into the church through baptism. Baptism, not circumcision, became the primary way that all of God’s people (Jews and Gentiles) were set apart as holy.

So in the church today, adults and children, including infants, are set apart as “holy” in baptism just as adults and children in Israel were set apart by circumcision. Throughout the centuries, the church has practiced baptism this way as the sign of God’s lasting covenant with his people, welcoming all who are in the households of believers into the family of God.

Lord, we praise you that all kinds of people, male and female, young and old, from all nations, are welcome in your family. In Jesus, Amen.

He and all his household were baptized.

— Acts 16:33

Not long ago I found myself detained in a police station, in a country not my own. My offense? Taking a U-turn while driving and, as the police officer put it, “obstructing traffic” (which was not true). I prayed lots of silent (but angry) prayers that day—and eventually God sent a “good Samaritan” (a newspaper reporter) who helped me post bail so that I could go home. Paul and Silas found themselves unjustly detained. But their situation was much different. They had been sharing the message of Jesus and were falsely accused of causing an uproar, so they were beaten and thrown in jail (Acts 16:1624). In prison they prayed, and they sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened. They had a deep confidence (faith) that God could use even their misfortunes to draw others (even criminals and jailers) into his family.

When an earthquake sent by God opened the prison and unchained everyone, Paul and Silas assured the jailer that no one had escaped. And the jailer, who had been ready to kill himself, learned about salvation through belief in Jesus. Then the jailer and “all his household were baptized.” (See also Acts 16:15.) In that time a “household” often included a wife and children, aging parents, and slaves or servants. In examples like this, God makes clear that he wants whole households brought into his covenant family!

Lord Jesus, Savior to all who call on you, bring us and our loved ones into the family of God, and use us to draw others to you. Amen.