I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Ephesians 4:1–7, ESV
Baptism was meant to be an act to unify the faithful in Christ Jesus. Yet, we find such division within the body of Christ. Some minimize the power of Baptism as a simple act of obedience. Jesus does call us to baptize and to be baptized, but it is more than just an act that is simply one entering into the water and coming out to show the world that you are a follower of Christ. Baptism is a rebirth, and we are adopted into the new life that our Lord offers to us. As John was baptizing in the wilderness, it was a simple act of repentance, a ritual washing away of sin. When Jesus entered those waters, it became something filled with promise, hope, and new life. Throughout the Old Testament, we will find how God utilizes water not only to cleanse but to save His chosen people. The waters of baptism are saving water that is not only meant to show that we belong to Jesus but that our lives are set apart and holy for the Lord. Just like we don’t have to resacrifice our Lord regularly at the altar, we are not meant to rebaptize ourselves when we fail to stay faithful in our walk. It is a once for all action that is performed upon us by God, which we have been called to by the Holy Spirit. As fellow followers of Christ, our calling is to raise up those who are baptized in discipleship so that they will continually walk in the hope and promise of Christ. In those waters, our Lord acts upon us and brings us hope, and the Holy Spirit is promised to us. As we are baptized in the name that Jesus commanded us to be baptized as he spoke, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” we walk in Him, and He walks with and within us.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.