October 25, 2023

Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism: Baptism Part 3

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 6:10-25, Matthew 9:19-38

“Clearly it is not the water that does it, but the word of God that is in and with the water, and the faith that trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Water is the greatest earthly gift that God has given to us in this life.  You are reminded of how important it is to drink your 8 glasses a day of water each day and that probably gets annoying.  If you lose too much water you get dehydrated and can die.  How many times have you seen a show where someone is in the desert parched and looking for just a simple bit of water.  Even the rich man sitting in hell asked for Lazarus to simply dip his finger in some water to cool his tongue.  Water is a big thing in Christianity too.  

All Christians speak about Baptism in some way or another.  Have you noticed that so many Christians today tend to focus on the water?  Sprinkling, immersing, churchy bathtubs, rivers or the ocean.  So much tends to be focused on how much water one needs to be baptized.  If  you think about it, water isn’t exactly in huge abundance for all peoples and locations.  In some areas water is a very precious commodity.  People have to spend an immense amount of time, money and energy to have access to water.  What water they do have is extremely precious and wisely used.  If I am in an area where there is a severe drought and water is very precious, does God really require us to fill a large pool or tub to be immersed?  

That’s why as Lutherans we have always stated that God sets no standard for how much water we need or where it is to be found.  To be blunt Luther today is really saying “To be sure, water is absolutely necessary for Baptism, but let's not lose focus of what Jesus is doing in Holy Baptism.”  In Baptism the focus is on the fact that God has attached His Word to water.  It is His command and His promise attached to water that Jesus works through, whether it be a sprinkle or Niagara Falls.  The Word of God that is in and with the water is the very hand of God, giving out all the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection for the life of all sinners.  Thanks be to God for water,  you need it for everything in this life that we live. Thanks be to God for attaching His Word to the waters of Holy Baptism where He gives you all that you the waters of everlasting life, never to evaporate or recede, for Jesus says to you; “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

- Pastor Kent Schaaf is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock. AR..

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.