Pastor’s Corner

Use it Well! 
On Trinity Sunday we celebrated the confirmation of two new members into our congregation. During the public examination, we sang several hymns which related to a portion of our Small Catechism. When it came to the section on “Baptism,” we sang a portion of a hymn with two of the stanzas below (please note the section I underlined): 

O Christian, firmly hold this gift 
And give God thanks forever! 
It gives the power to uplift 
In all that you endeavor. 
When nothing else revives your soul, 
Your baptism stands and makes you whole 
And then in death completes you. 
So use it well! You are made new – 
In Christ a new creation . . . 

“All Christians who Have Been Baptized” 
#596 st. 5 & 6, Lutheran Service Book 

When it comes to baptism, we may think of it as something we usually do to infants and then . . . that’s it! What struck me about the above hymn is that, in regard to baptism, we are to “use it well.” We may wonder, “how on earth do I ‘use’ baptism? In fact, how do I use it ‘well’? What does this mean?” That’s a good question. I always like to say we Christians have a baptismal life in Christ, and that baptismal life continues to happen every single day. 

So, when it comes to my baptism, how do I “use it well”? How about this: when I sin, I can remember Christ poured His sacrificial blood over me in the waters of baptism; I am forgiven. How do I use it well? When I am tempted, I remember Christ made me a new creation in baptism, I am literally a new person and am no longer forced to follow my sin ever again. How do I use it well? When there are fights with others, I can forgive them just like Christ forgave me. How do I use it well? Maybe the greatest way is when death is near, I can remember Christ has made me His own. I have been united with Him through baptism into death (Romans 6). And if my baptism has united me with His death, then it will certainly also unite me with His resurrection! (Romans 6) 

Baptism is never done and over with. We truly have a baptismal life, so use it well every single day! 

-- Pastor Grimenstein