Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
Monday, 15 January Anno Domini 2024
Romans 6:1-11
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. For our God, Baptism is something spectacular. The human reason wants it to be about itself. God won’t let that stand. He takes it from a mere declaration of the Christian faith into a full on application of the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus upon you. This is what Jesus means when he tells John, “Permit it to be so now, that we may fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). In order to fulfill all righteousness and to apply it to you and on you, he must be baptized. Now all his work, namely his crucifixion and death, and his resurrection, are applied to you in the water. His death is your death. You are dead to sin. His resurrection is your resurrection. You are dead to sin and alive to God. You have been claimed as his own. In the waters of baptism, Jesus makes you a child of God with all the same rights and privileges he has. You are wrapped in the righteousness of Christ, you are named in the Lamb’s book of life. His name is placed upon you. Wow. You must consider yourselves heirs with Jesus of eternal life itself. Thanks be to God. In the name of +Jesus. Amen.
You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.
The Collect of the Week:
Almighty and everlasting God, Governor of all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of Your people and grant us Your peace in our time; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for us and others:
For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, those in hospice, and those who cannot care for themselves;
For those suffering from inclement weather;
For parents who must take time off of work to care for their children;
For those driving in unsafe conditions, that God’s angels would guard and keep them;
For our pastors (Pastor White and Pastor Cholak);
For the elders of Our Savior Lutheran Church as they work to call an assistant pastor;
For all the shut-ins and elderly of Our Savior Lutheran Church.