Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 BAPTISM - ENTERING INTO THE DIVINE PLAN


Exodus 2:1-10

 Rev Sam T Panicker
2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months.

 
When a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt, he introduced many regulations over the immigrant community to restrict their mobility and progress. But God's providential care was upon the Israelite families.The given text dealt with such a divine concern upon his people. Moses’ Levite parents Amram and Jochebed and, pharaoh's daughter disobeyed the king's edict, as did the God fearing hebrew midwives.
 
1   God's nurturing care upon the child.
 
The given story was a struggle of a family to protect their child and his survival. Here God protects the weak and victimized.
 
In every baptismal service we declare God's nurturing care at conception, childbirth and infancy.

 
Baptism is one of the dominical sacraments , instituted by Jesus himself. Children are a gift from the Lord. The saving presence of God was with baby Moses  and that protected him from all dangers. So baptism is a celebration of that presence and experiencing that presence.  It begins at the very early stages  of life. Baptism is an entry point of one's Christian nurturing  and the faith community has to make sure the  child will get such a continuous Christian nurturing. Remember Jesus commanded  " feed my lambs'
 
2. Divine purpose of a child is liturgically affirmed in baptism.
 
 The parents of Moses found "the child is beautiful" and the beauty reveals the absolute godly nature of the child. The God fearing parents perceived  this at the beginning, so they tried to hide the child.Hebrews 11;23 says parents of Moses hid the child by faith.
 
God foresaw Moses as the liberator of his people.Tagore once commented, “Each new born baby is a symbol of God's hope in this world.”
 
Each child is  precious in God's sight.In our Church’s  baptismal service the parents and godparents submit the  child as an offering before  the Lord.  Church teaches that God honours such dedication. God makes a special claim upon the child at baptism and the child is also being incorporated into the body of Christ.The baptismal candidate has the ability to assimilate the heavenly blessings and gifts.The divine grace protects the baby Moses for a higher purpose in life.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus as you blessed the little ones during your ministry, let our kids grow up in good stature and faith before God and man.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
 
The little ones can perceive the divine tasks at their tender age and with God's grace they can fulfill the divine plan.

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