Overwhelm

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you," Isaiah 43:2.

And God goes on to say: And through rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Doesn't sound like baptism, does it? Yet, it's talking about redemption. About what God paid to redeem the people he loves. God says: I have redeemed you, I have called you by my name. God goes on to say: You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. God says: Fear not, for I am with you. So, when we enter the water and the water covers us, that's where we meet the God who draws us safely out of it. When the fire of his Spirit baptizes us, we meet the God who draws us through it into Christ's one body. When the conflagration comes to destroy the earth, we meet the God who transforms us to be like his Son. Face to face, from glory to glory. Sky kingdom.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we remind each other of baptism into Christ - and God's promises of safety through every trial. And, together, we give humble thanks to God who loves us so.