The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10

“… having been buried with Him in baptism.”
Colossians 2:12

Buried with Christ

When a person is convicted of murder, the judge pronounces the sentence. All people stand before the court of divine judgement and are found guilty under God’s Law. The Word of God announces death as the penalty for all offenses. “The wages of sin is death” [Romans 6:23]. There is no escape available for the sinner. God Himself provided that way. It is the way of Jesus’ death and burial. Jesus died in our place, and was buried, as though He were the real criminal. We can point to the cross and say; “that death was for my rebellion. His grave is the grave I deserve.”
And so, Baptism becomes the means that God uses to bring me the benefits of Christ’s death. The water of baptism covers my head to signify that the grave covered Christ and my sin. In Baptism, I am joined to Christ, and my sinful self is buried in His grave. Each day as sin tried to gain the upper hand in my life, I do well to remember my Baptism. The sinner in me is not to be kept alive. I have been buried with Christ.
O God, give me grace every day to remember by Baptism and to let my selfish life stay buried with Christ. Amen.

February 15, 1962