Dear Baptized Ones,

On Sunday, you are invited to participate in the baptism of Clara Kate Laughlin. Micah and Emilee humbly recognize that this covenant sign declares that Clara can only be justified by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. This proves true even before and most assuredly after she could perform any deeds of righteous or unrighteous substance. Her baptism will serve as a beautiful reflection of the truth taught in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14: she will never be able to earn God’s forgiveness nor will her failings exile her from the forgiving mercy offered to her to humbly receive in Christ. Her baptism will serve as a means of grace to help her parents and fellow church members teach her of God’s eternal love to which she will hopefully submit to by faith in Christ someday.

Clara’s baptism also offers us the opportunity to remember that we were baptized and improve upon what it signifies and seals. Please consider Darrell L. Bock’s words in Luke 9:51-24:53 to help prepare for this sacrament:

“Luke 18:9-14 is a simple contrastive parable with one basic message: humility before God is what he finds acceptable. One is not to compare oneself to anyone in hopes of justifying oneself. The basic approach that God accepts is trusting in his mercy, not assuming that one has the right to receive blessing for one’s activity. The assurance of this mercy is made available after Jesus’ ministry on the basis of his sacrificial death. The security that one receives through Jesus’ work is grounded in God’s grace and mercy not one’s works (Rom. 3:21-31; Eph. 2:14-18). It is because of gratitude to God for his work of mercy that one serves God.”

Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you deny your self-righteous works and identities and forgive you for using them to belittle others by comparison. Ask the Spirit to help you take up the cross of humility through confession of sin and need for God’s ongoing mercy through Christ’s finished work. Give thanks for Jesus dying in your place to atone for your sin and for rising to gift you eternal life in the resurrection. May your baptism serve as an ongoing help to you loving God and those in your spheres of influence because of how deeply you’ve been loved!

In Christ,
Cameron