Readings for January 1: Isaiah
61:1-11, Psalm 113, Luke 1:57-80
January 1st, a day when we make resolutions. Sometimes they are simple and easy to reach,
sometimes they are a lot more challenging.
January 2nd, the day when most of us break our New Year’s
resolutions. Why? Because we like to fall into our habits, and
it is easier to fall back into old habits as opposed to creating new ones. Take the path of least resistance. Right?
Thus I am not making a resolution, but a prayer. An honest prayer that I have been meaning to
make for a long time, but something in me has kept me from. A simple prayer. One found in the bible. It is this: “Lord, I believe; help my
unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, NKJV)
I also pray that this year I may not live as a sinful child
of this world, but as a baptized and forgiven child of God. My goal this is year is that by the grace of
God I may Live Baptized, not condemned, enslaved to sin, but forgiven,
purchased and one by the blood of Christ.
The goal of this blog then is to draw myself closer to
Christ. If others choose to take this
journey with me, then even better.
However, I have found that for me personally, I stick with things more
when I commit to it publicly, and thus this is my committal.
I hope you take this walk with me to live as a baptized
child of God, and daily remember what he has done for us.
As C.F.W. Walther wrote: “Baptism is a bath that washed me
not only once when I received it—washed me pure with Christ’s blood—but it
continuously washes me clean even daily for as long as I hold it in faith. For just as that same water drowned the
sinners, but Noah with his relatives were brought to salvation and carried to
Mount Ararat, so also did the water of my Baptism drown my sins, but my soul
was brought to the eternal mountain of divine grace. And just as once those same waves of the Red
Sea, which swallowed up Pharaoh and his army, were a protective wall for
Israel, so also has my baptismal water swallows up all of my damnation and is
for me a sure wall before God’s wrath and punishment….
“Now then, all of you who believe in God’s Word, let you
watchword for entering the New Year be this: “I am baptized!” Although the
world may laugh at this comfort, the enthusiast vex its confidence…nevertheless,
abandon any other dearly held pledges and speak only throughout the entire year
to come, in all terrors of conscience and necessity through sin and death: “I
am baptized! I am baptized! Hallelujah!” And you shall prevail! In every time
of need, you will comfort in your Baptism; on account of it Satan will flee
from your faith and confession….”
And so my New Year prayer is this:
Dear Heavenly Father,
who reigns over all things and who has blessed us with the closing of one year
and the beginning of another, guide us safely through this year that, just as
our days progress here on this earth, our faith may progress ever nearer to
you. We thank you that you have brought
us safely through the last year, and pray that you would continue to guard us
and provide for us. This we pray through
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.
Amen.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding,
keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
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