12-08-2023

Good Morning All,

            Hebrews 7:22; “This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.”

    A number of years ago, I had a neighbor who was trying to sell some bred cows.  He advertised them at a certain price.  Someone from a fair distance away came and wanted to buy them.  The man gave him 10% of the price as a down payment.  He told him he would pay the balance when he came back to get the cows.  The man never came back so my neighbor still had the cows plus he had the 10% down payment.  The first man guaranteed he would pay the balance, when he didn’t, he forfeited the down payment.

    This is part of how we view Baptism.  In Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit as a down payment towards our salvation and Jesus is the one who guarantees the payment.  Jesus has already paid the price for our salvation, and, in Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit as the down payment for the completion of our salvation; that is eternal life with our glorified body.  That is the promise that we have.  That is why we ae encouraged to “remember our Baptism.”  It is the sign of God’s grace, active and alive in our hearts and lives right now today.

    We live in this Baptismal grace, this undeserved promise of God’s eternal love and mercy.  We always have it.  No matter what we did or said.  No matter how we treated others or our own body; nothing can separate us from God’s love and mercy.  No matter how terrible things were or are, we live in God’s grace.  We simply trust in his mercy to sustain us.

    I remember talking with a friend who was counselling a young woman.  She was about 30 at the time and she had had an abortion when she was 15.  Her parents, her boyfriend’s parents, her boyfriend at the time all told her it was the right thing to do, it was easy, and she could just go on with her life.  It was easy for everyone but her.  For years, she was racked by guilt and shame.  When she finally started to talk to my friend, he wanted her to join his church.  She declined, finally telling him her story.  She was convinced that he would turn away in disgust but instead he pronounced God’s forgiveness on her.  He told her that she is a baptized, redeemed child of God and that God has forgiven her.  She was elated, the weight of years of pain and agony were being lifted from her shoulders and she finally looked forward to the coming day.

    You may or may not have an experience like that in your life but, if you are baptized, you have that same Baptismal grace in your life.  Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, for he is the guarantee of that love.  He is the proof of that love.  God invites you to free yourself of that pain; hear his promise so come and take it in your heart and life.

Gracious Father, your amazing love carries me through this turbulent life.  As the storms gather, I trust in your unchanging love and find shelter in you.  Be with those who are struggling with the pains and sorrows of life.  Keep them mindful of your mercy given to them in your Baptism.  Help them to cling to your grace and favor as your dear children.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret