28th Day in Lent- The Small Catechism- Holy Baptism (cont'd)

"How can water do such things?"

In answering this question, Luther points to Titus 3: 5-8.  It is not the water, but the water with the gift of God's Holy Spirit,  "Through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."  The verse goes on to say it is all because of the gift of Jesus, "so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  In other words, it is not our own doing.  As the devotions says, "God gives us much responsibility in creation, but God did not consult us before giving us Jesus."  In this I find rest.  In this I find peace.  In my humanity I fall short every day.  I am far from perfect.  I take my responsibilities in my family, my work, and in the world, seriously.  But I can never fully measure up to all that I could be.  As Luther discovered in his life some 500 years ago, all of that striving is still not enough.  But the gospel sets us free from this.  "Freed from our own schemes of getting a piece of the inheritance, we settle down into the promise already offered and assured.  The death of Christ declares that the inheritance is  ours, this day and forever; so also Jesus shared resurrected life with us, this day and forever."  That's no joke.  That's God's love and promise.