Alicia Taylor

The words "water" and "waters" are mentioned almost 800 times in the Old and New Testaments.  The Word of God connects water with birth, death, renewal and cleansing, with the Trinity, with creation and community, and with baptism.  I invite you to read the text from the Gospel of Luke 3:15-17 and 21-22.

In the first passage, when John the Baptist was asked whether he was the Christ, "John answered and said to them all, 'As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'"

And in the second passage, the recording of the baptism of Jesus, "Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "'You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.'"

Our baptism means that we are joined to Jesus Christ forever!  As we are baptized with water, he baptizes us with his Spirit, washing away all our sins and freeing us from their control.  Our baptism is a sign that one day we will rise with him in glory, and may walk with him even now in newness of life.

May you see and experience this week, in a new way, the living waters of God's Word at work in the world.  Filled up with the Spirit, may we nourish one another to serve in Jesus' name.

Prayer for Today

Merciful God, you have baptized us into one body.  Living Water, now cleanse and renew us.  Sanctify us, we pray, that God's Word we obey, and to Christ may we ever be true.  Amen.