Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Holy Baptism: Born from Above


Dr. Prathik Manuel Philip
Carmel MTC Boston MA

"She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”  “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother."
 
The story of Moses' birth is one that we all remember from our days in Sunday School. In the narration, Moses is described as a "fine" child and the mother hid him for three months believing that God had a plan for Moses and that he was not meant for death. Through her faith(Hebrew 11:23), she saved the child who would later free the Hebrews and one day lead them out of Egypt toward the promised land.

The Nile river meant death to so many baby boys during that time period. God used this same river to deliver Moses into the arms of Pharaoh's daughter. Only through the mercy of the Pharaoh's daughter did he survive. Once again God turned the instrument of death (an Egyptian -Pharaoh) into a savior (an Egyptian - Pharaoh's daughter) who would deliver him from the fate of the other baby boys.

God does not favor someone because of how they look("fine") but rather who they are on the inside. We know that as Christians, God has called us to a higher calling in order to promote His Word and share His love with others. Life is difficult and many people feel like they are drowning in their responsibilities and the problems that they are going through. Only through faith will God carry us through our own personal "Niles" just as the basket carried Moses over the river. Only through faith will we be where God intended so that we can fulfill His plan for our lives. As 1 Peter 2:9 says, "you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

The name Moses means " drawn from water". Moses was put in the water as a slave but came out as a free man. His baptism brought about new life not only for him and later on for all of God's people. Similarly Baptism frees us from the old self and sin. We who have been baptised need to live our lives accordingly and continue to remain in the light and be guided by Christ's example.
  

PRAYER

Lord God, may we be grateful for our lot, and compassionate toward all those who are suffering any kind of distress. May we hold back nothing, and hasten to be the ministers of prayer and mercy, and be the disciples of Him who went about doing
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. 

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