Catalyst Question
What do you remember of your baptism, if anything? If you aren’t baptized, or if you don’t remember yours, then share a memory of a baptism you witnessed.
The Baptized Life
This week is President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. As people share memories, you might notice that many reflect not only on his presidency, but on what he did with life after he completed his only term as the leader of the United States of America.
There’s lots of reasons for that. Chief amongst them is that, after he left the White House, President Carter committed to continued service. This happened in his local Georgia church where he served as a Sunday school teacher. His influence helped to kickstart the housing movement that became Habitat for Humanity. He worked globally to reduce poverty and locally to inspire people of faith to live out Jesus’ compassion.
Political junkies might also know that President Carter’s single term was controversial. People remember economic turmoil at home and the the Iran-Contra Affair abroad. Fortunately, like any baptized child of God, President Carter knew two things. First, no one is perfect. Whether due to mistakes in his leadership or powers beyond his control, President Carter admitted his limitations. Second, he knew that mistakes don’t need to end your influence, even if they bring a change in the way(s) that you serve.
That’s the baptized life. We, who are not perfect, live in light of Christ’s perfection. We, who cannot save ourselves or everyone else, are saved by the grace of God.
This week, as we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, we read about the baptism of the only one perfect among us, Jesus (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22). Jesus submits to baptism as a sign that God, in becoming human, also accepted limitation. All of us who follow him in baptism, join in that miraculous life, death, and resurrection. Our human limitations and our sinfulness alike are not the end of our story because, in Christ, we live resurrection life.
President Carter’s legacy reminds us that, long before death, Christ invites us to participate in resurrection life. It also reminds us that, even if we don’t remember our own baptisms, we are living our baptism every day as we emulate Jesus in word and deed. May we live that life today and every day, until death comes, when we will join in that final promise of everlasting life.
Ask Yourself: When things don’t go the way you want them to, how might you remember your baptism in ways that inspire new ways of living more abundant life?
Ask a Friend: Who is someone you witnessed live a resurrection life? It could be a personal connection, a public figure, or even fictional character.
