Good morning: Do you remember your first waking thought this morning? Was it how you were going to relax and enjoy a day off, a list of chores to catch up on around the house, a shopping trip? Our thoughts naturally gravitate toward ourselves and revolve around our ideas and plans. Those plans don’t always turn out as well as we might hope. We may overestimate our abilities and underestimate the obstacles. Great expectations can fall flat. Besides that, we already have long lists of uncompleted tasks. We haven’t loved God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Our good intentions to call a friend who’s struggling, to be more helpful to our spouse, and to show greater patience toward coworkers and classmates are still waiting to be realized. Paul said it well: “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Rom. 7:15). Measuring up to God’s expectations is a daunting task to wake up to. There is another way to begin the day. Instead of thinking of what you need to do or want to do, think of what Jesus has already done for you. He came to shine the light of salvation into every dark corner of our lives. He has already accomplished the entire list of things God expects. He loved His heavenly Father perfectly. He fulfilled all our obligations for us. He suffered the penalty for our failures. All that was required of us, He did. It’s all done! Want to be sure? Remember your baptism. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Rom. 6:4). In baptism God put His name on us. We are joined to Jesus so closely that everything He did is just as though we had done it. No matter what we might plan and do, it’s going to be a great day! How can it not be when what is most important for our peace and happiness has already been done! May that thought not only begin our day, but stay in our hearts until we close our eyes tonight. Yours in Christ, Pastor Tomorrow is our annual Baptism Sunday. The service is at 9 a.m. A fellowship hour will follow. No Sunday school or Bible class. The Ram Page Click here to view the February issue of the Messiah School newsletter.
