25th Day in Lent- The Small Catechism- Holy Baptism

"Baptism is not simply plain water.  Instead, it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's word."

With today's devotion we turn our focus to a new section of the Catechism, Holy Baptism.  This is one of the two sacraments Luther defines in the Catechism, the other being the Lord's Supper.  In his explanation he gives us the three essential parts of a sacrament.  There is an earthly element, in this case water.  It is used in accordance with God's command.  The command is found in Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  It is a gift of God's grace, which we'll talk about in the next few days.  Today's focus is on the water.  As the devotion points out, it's not the water alone that matters.  Water from the tap works.  Water from a well is fine.  Water in a lake or water in a flowing stream is acceptable.  When we went to Israel last year, we brought back water from the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized, and used some of that water in our granddaughter's baptism.  That was special, but it's really not about the water.  It is water used with the word of God that makes baptism effective.  Without the word, it's just water.  And it is the word that declares, "You are a child of God, sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever."  Thanks be to God for the water and the word!