Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6 Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 5:22-6:9; Matthew 9:1-17 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. (Ephesians 4:5-7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As Christians we enter the Ark of the Church through the same means that kills, yet saves: water. Baptism seals us into the Ark like sanctified pitch, yet instead of tar residue we are blessed with a watermark that confesses our faith to the world! You are a baptized child of God! But what does that mean? To ask it another way: What is in a name? As Lutherans we believe the biblical truth that Baptism saves us. Likewise, we believe that when the pastor says, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," God has written our name in the Book of Life and placed His Name upon us. Thus, we are "little Christs." With that lavish washing away o