Baptized Into God’s Family – June 6, 2023

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Baptized Into God’s Family

Have you ever felt like an outsider? I remember feeling like an outsider when I didn’t make the seventh-grade basketball team. I didn’t have the skills, size, or speed to contribute. I felt the same way when I didn’t get a delivery job because of my past failures behind the wheel.

Have you had a similar experience? Maybe you didn’t make the team, club, or company because of your lack of skills or experience. So, you remained an outsider. You just didn’t belong.

Thankfully, there is one team on which you can be sure you belong–God’s team. In fact, two thousand years ago, Jesus commanded his followers to tell people about God’s team and his desire for them to be on it.

You might wonder, “Am I really qualified to be on God’s team?” The truth is, you’re not. No one is. But Jesus’ life, death and resurrection qualify us to be on God’s team. That’s why Jesus told his followers to go to all nations. It doesn’t matter your race or ethnicity, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, male or female. God wants all people on his team, and Jesus has done everything necessary for them to be on God’s team. You don’t need to submit a resume, compete in a tryout, or submit your record. To get on this team, you don’t do anything. In fact, God does something for you. He told his followers to baptize people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The water combined with those words qualifies people to be on God’s team. What a wonderful gift!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the waters of baptism that bring sinners like me into your family. Amen.