Jacob’s Family (5)
I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed
after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Genesis 17:7
Read Genesis 17:1-7
The suggestion made by the sons of Jacob did not pose a problem for Hamor
and his son Shechem. Things could have been much worse. They would
just have to go along and be circumcised; they did not even question it. We
should not reproach them for this, for today there are also many people who
are ignorant about baptism or baptize their children simply out of custom.
We have to explain to them the promises that baptism contain, as well as the
obligation to love the one true God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost – with all our
hearts and put our trust in Him alone. Our obligation from God’s covenant
involves forsaking the world, putting to death our old nature and walking in
a new and godly life. That is the demand the Lord makes in your baptism.
Jacob and his sons ignore this.
What does your baptism mean to you? The blessings God promises should
be pleaded for in prayer. Read your Bible and pray God’s promises back to
Him. The Lord desires that you ask Him for His mercy. But, at the same
time, your baptism also makes your responsibilities greater. Your baptism
sets boundaries. Do you guard those limits or do you remain silent about
them just as Jacob did? Are you hiding sins? Are you a believer afraid of being
identified as such? you must testify who you really are. You have been
set apart, so your life belongs to God. That means you are a pilgrim, but you
also have a Guide to lead you through this life. As a result, you will never be
alone, even when you feel like a stranger in this world.
Question: How does your baptism function in your prayers?
Psalter 425:6 (based on Psalm 105)
The Lord His covenant people planted
In lands of nations which He granted,
That they His statutes might observe,
Nor from His laws might ever swerve.
Let songs of praise to Him ascend,
And hallelujahs without end.
