Daily Devotions
“God’s own child, I gladly say it; I am baptized into Christ! He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free lasting to eternity!
“Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the font I’ve traveled, all your might has come unraveled, And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!”
We can only imagine the terror and hope of a kidnapped victim during the long wait for a ransom payment. Scripture sometimes uses a similar image to describe our captivity under sin and Satan. The ransom to be paid, the redemption price, is death. Who could pay that price? The psalmist protests the outrageous cost: “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit” (Psalm 49:7-9). Yet the inspired psalmist also knows the answer: “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me” (Psalm 49:15). God sent His Son to ransom us from death, to pay with His death the “full redemption price,” a price we could not pay.
In Baptism we were united to Jesus, joined to Him in His death and buried with Him. Then in that same miraculous moment of water, Spirit, and Word, we were raised up from death with Him to live a new life of freedom and service to the Lord who saved us. When we were brought to the baptismal font to die and rise with Jesus, Satan’s power and might over us was “unraveled.” Our ancient foe wants to keep us tangled in sin and guilt and drag us into death, but by His death and resurrection, Jesus crushed the devil’s might and tore the power of death from Satan’s threatening grasp.
Saints and angels in heaven rejoiced at Jesus’ victory and Satan’s downfall: “The accuser of our brothers has been thrown down!” (Revelation 12:10b). With Jesus’ victory, Satan can no longer accuse and slander us before the throne of God. Our enemy continues his attempts to tangle us up in guilt and fear, but he cannot win. He tries to threaten us with death—the penalty for sin—but even that threat cannot succeed. When Satan tries to accuse us and cause us to doubt our forgiveness, we can defiantly announce, I am baptized! I died with Jesus, and I have been raised to new life! Satan, “against your accusations and tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!”
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, You paid the ransom I could not afford and in Baptism You joined Your life to mine. Help me to live as Your child. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It,” which is number 594 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How horrible it would be to be kidnapped! How does Satan hold people hostage?
2. What did it cost God the Father to ransom us from sin and death?
3. What is Baptism? If you’re interested in learning more, go to LHM’s God Connects course at www.lhm.org/godconnects.