Today is a cold, windy, rainy day in my part of North Texas. Yesterday I was privileged to lead worship for the saints at Trinity, Commerce and St. James, Allen’s Chapel. Since it was the day to remember the baptism of Jesus, I reminded the folks assembled for worship of the importance of their own Baptisms. As part of that, I shared the following story, which I also shared here a couple of years ago.

A mother was driving her car through the rain with her son, Matthew, in the passenger seat. Mom was paying careful attention to her driving, knowing that extra precaution was necessary when the roads were slick. Suddenly, her son said, “Mom, I was thinking of something.” This kind of announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for quite a while and was now ready to expound on all that his seven-year-old mind has discovered. “What are you thinking?” she said, eager to hear his insight. “The rain,” he said, “is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away.” Mom felt goose bumps up and down her arms at thinking so profound from her young son. She replied, “That’s really good, Matthew.” She wondered how much deeper his young mind had delved into this, so she asked, “Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?” Matthew didn’t hesitate at all before responding, “We keep on sinning and God just keeps on forgiving us.” That mom said she thinks about that every time she turns on her windshield wipers.

Ephesians 5:25-26 Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

Luther said that you should always remember your Baptism. I had a little sign on my mirror of my office restroom that quoted Luther: “When you wash your face, remember your Baptism.” The reason for this encouragement is that each time you remember your Baptism, it reminds you who you are: a forgiven child of God.  You are connected to the one who was born in that stable, baptized in the Jordan, crucified at Calvary and risen on the third day. You are forgiven because of what He did for you.

Make that your thought for today.