Baptism

Stop.

What do you know about your baptism? What do you know about baptism in general? Take a moment to think about baptism and what it means for your life and Christian faith.

Listen.

As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”  He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. – Acts 8:36-38

Reflect.

In our lesson on Sunday morning, we will hear the powerful story of Phillip, an apostle of Jesus, and an unnamed man from Ethiopia who is a eunuch. In the story, the encounter between Phillip and the eunuch results in a powerful exchange of teaching and faith leading to the Ethiopian man being baptized by Phillip.  

This story is a powerful reminder that God’s word of life and grace comes to all people and cannot be controlled by our limitations or expectations. In spite of the many significant sociopolitical forces that could have pulled them apart, the good news brought these two men together – and brought one of them to baptism.  

Because this story culminates in baptism, it’s a great opportunity for us to talk about what baptism is and how we think of it as Lutherans. One vital thing to remember comes from this very story: baptism is a gift from God and accompanies faith, which is also a gift from God.  

Baptism is God’s gift to us. It grants us God’s love, forgiveness, life, and even faith itself. Faith is similarly God’s gift, and it doesn’t matter if faith comes before or after your baptism. For the Ethiopian man, faith preceded baptism. For those of us baptized as infants, it’s most likely that faith proceeded from baptism. Either way, both are God’s gifts to us. Because it is a gift, we can simply praise God for the miracle of this work.  

As you reflect on your baptism, pause to thank God for the gift of faith itself. Just as nothing stood between the Ethiopian eunuch and his baptism, nothing stands between you and God because of that gift of life. This is good news indeed!

Pray.

God, in my baptism, you have given me so much. Thank you for the faith, hope, grace, mercy, peace, and life that you give me through this gift. Strengthen me as I live abundantly into your promises. Amen.

Carry On.

Do you know when you were baptized? Find out your baptismal birthday – and celebrate it!