Through the amazing act of baptism, we are given a newness of life. When we are baptized, our old self is gone. It is buried as we go under the water, and when we come up out of the water we are raised up to a new life. 

Baptism provides a spiritual cleansing. It is an outward physical act that represents an inward spiritual commitment. After accepting the gift of salvation and God’s forgiveness, baptism is the way to publicly declare we are choosing to give our life to Jesus, fully committed to following him, while also rejecting sin. And thankfully, we don’t have to try to do this in our own power. 

Just as God raised Jesus from the dead by His glorious power, so too are we raised from the dead (a life of sin) by his glorious power, through baptism, to consistently live and behave in the newness of life in Him. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You that Jesus bled and died for my sin and that I can be buried with Jesus in baptism. I thank You that my sinful nature can be put to death, initially in baptism, but then daily by taking up my cross to crucify my flesh and follow Jesus. I confess of the many temptations to return to my old self. I thank You for the promise that if I confess my sins You are faithful and just to forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness. May Your Holy Spirit be close to me, not just for power and comfort, but to convict me and to remind me and help me to stand against my sinful nature. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

If your reaction to today’s devotion is, “That is too simple for such a great miracle to occur,” read in 1 Kings chapter 5 the account of Naaman the soldier, who needed healing from an incurable disease. He was surprised at the simple instruction from Elisha the prophet to wash in the dirty Jordan river. Let it build your faith. Sin is an incurable disease. Obedience is simple. Obstacles spring up in our minds and hearts. Obedience brings peace.