Baptism of the Lord: Friday, January 12, 2007

I try to keep the attention of my blogging upon the Word and off myself, but I wanted to share with you and ask your prayers for our son Thomas. He will be baptized this Sunday. Keep him and our family in your prayers as we draw forth to this holy event, and may the grace of our Lord be at work in his heart, drawing Thomas closer to Him, drawing Thomas closer to that moment where Thomas confirms that baptism and claims the salvation God has freely offered to him, and to each of us.

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 42:1-17

I love the notion within this passage of singing to the Lord a new song. Maybe that is just because I can't sing and look forward to that day when I can sing that new song But, we are called to sing to Him a new song today. I heard someone say once, a testimony is not just what God has done in your life, it is what God is doing now in your life. How many of us focus more on what God has done instead of what God is doing.

God is wanting to do something great in your life right now, if you will allow. He wants to do a new work in your life. He wants you to sing a new song. He wants you to know new life. He wants you to have new grace. He wants to fill you and bless you. He wants you to sing forth His praise. Today, in a new way. Will we do it?

New Testament Lesson

Ephesians 3:1-13

We see that grace is not given just be there, but it is given for a purpose. Paul says that grace was given him so that he could bring the good news to the Gentiles. All he went through, all he suffered, all he endured, was a means by which he could go about bringing the good new that Gentiles. There was a purpose behind it, it was not in vain.

Today, God gives you grace for a purpose and a reason. He gives you the power of His Spirit to draw you close, and to allow you to go and serve. This life we've been given has been given us to serve God. We are not our own, we are God's people, and we are supposed to live in such a manner. We do not have the rights to ourselves, God does. Let us live in such a holy manner.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 2:13-22

Jesus said He came not to save the righteous, but sinner. There is an irony there, for we are all sinners. We are all in need of His salvation and His redemption. We are all in need of His cleansing and His power. We are all sinners.

But, only those that realize it can be saved. Do you realize that in the end, Matthew came out better than the Pharisees? He admitted his sin, and was saved. They did not, and they were not. Even through, to the human eye, they may have "looked" better, they were sinner. Matthew confess, repented, and was saved. They did not, and they were not.

Today, would we rather appear to be righteous and wind up condemned, or would we rather admit our sin, and receive God's salvation. The choice is up to us.