What does baptism do?

Amos 7:15

“But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

What would be the best way that God could refer to you and to me? I suppose there could be several ways to think about it, but wouldn’t it be awesome for God to call you and me, “my people,” like in the verse above? Yeah, I think that would be really wonderful!

The problem is, I’m a spiritual mess! God wants me to be patient and kind, content and unselfish, filled with love for God and for my fellow humans. I fail over and over! Why in the world would God want to call me “my people”?

But in amazing grace, he does! In baptism, God placed his name on me, adopting me into his family. The Word assures me that Jesus died and rose for everyone, so I can know for sure that he died and rose for me. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus’ body and blood are given to me. In short, over and over again, God assures me that when he says “my people,” I’m one of those people.

And so are you.

Thankful to be one of God’s people, just like you,

pastor