Good morning, and a blessed Thursday morning to you!

Would you open your Bibles with me, please, to Titus, chapter 3? For our time in God's Word today, I'd like us to consider the wonderful gift of baptism.

When a baptism occurs in the life of a congregation, it is always a wonderful event, isn't it? I think of the baptism last Sunday.

That is a time of communal joy. It's a time of individual joy.

Well, this coming Sunday is also going to be a day of joy. A group of young people will be participating in the Rite of Confirmation. That's a time of joy not only for them and their families, but also for the entire congregation.

So often, confirmation can be thought of as the time when young people make their decision for Jesus. But at the heart of the Rite of Confirmation is the affirmation of our baptism.

You see, in our baptism, God made His decision about us.

Look with me, please, at Titus, chapter 3, beginning with verse 4:

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

What's that? That's baptism—the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit!

Turn over, please, to 1 Peter, chapter 3. We'll start with verse 21:

“And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers made subject to him.”

Baptism is such a gift! It's such a gift. It is God's decision about us. It's when God says, “You're mine, and I'm not letting go!”

And God comes, washing us with His Word and giving us His gifts. He gives us forgiveness, eternal life, and faith. The Holy Spirit makes us members of God's family.

Baptismal affirmation is really a continual event. This Sunday, the confirmands are going to do it in a special way. They've completed a period of study, and now they're communicating that they're ready to take on greater responsibility in the life of our Christian community and its mission to the world.

But really, baptismal affirmation is that continual joy we have because of God's action on our behalf.

God is at work through Word and Sacrament, keeping us in the covenant He established with us in the waters of baptism.

And so, may we add our “yes” to the questions that will be asked of the confirmands this Sunday, when I turn and ask them if they intend:

• To continue in the covenant God made with them in Holy Baptism;

• To live among God's faithful people;

• To hear His Word and share in His Supper;

• To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed;

• To serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus; and

• To strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

May we add our “yes” as well, affirming that this is our intent, too.

It's going to be a wonderful Sunday as we join together in affirmation!

Let's pray.

Gracious God, we give You thanks for this time in Your Word. Your Word is truth. We thank You, O Lord, for the decision You make about us in the waters of baptism. And we thank You that, by Your grace, we can affirm Your action in baptism each and every day.

Thank You, Lord, for the forgiveness won through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You, Lord, for how You take Your gifts and victory and wash us in Your promises.

We praise You and glorify You in the strong and holy name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

God bless you today. Encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel