But now, says the Lord—
the one who created you, Jacob,
    the one who formed you, Israel:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name; you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1

After another sojourn to Florida, I am most definitely glad to be home. At the same time I am happy to have been able to spend those few days in Orlando to help our daughter get some details worked out for this shift in circumstance. Nobody wants to be in this position, and I am grateful that Rebekah and I have – at least in this instance – the ability to help.

Home in North Carolina meant heading to church on a cold wet Sunday morning very much reminiscent of the chilly damp days that defined January in England when I was growing up. Forty-degrees and rain. This is a classic example of, “It’s a bit British outside today…”

So, both walking to and returning home from church involved rain and raincoats and umbrellas. The relentless precipitation nicely framed our friend Chauncey’s message on baptism!

What really interests me about both baptism and confirmation is not so much the rite of passage as it is the identification with covenant. Listen to these words from Isaiah: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine!”

The fact of my baptism – and I have said this before – is not so much about me choosing God, it is my acknowledgment that God has chosen me – that God is choosing me.

God has chosen/is choosing me

And why has our Creator made this commitment? God puts it this way: “Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you.” (verse 4).

This is not a “one-and-done” moment as in “check this off the list.” God’s commitment to us and investment in us continues – it is active. When a preacher holds a baby and pronounces the blessing that is not all there is. We are held in God’s arms today.

Rebekah and I are precious in God’s sight and God loves us. Our grandchildren are precious in God’s sight and God loves them. Jesus has his arm around our son Andrew’s shoulders in Poland. Our daughter Naomi is held close in God’s arms in her current situation.

God chooses us. Today, yesterday, tomorrow, always.

We did not have an actual baptism scheduled this weekend but we were all baptized in grace. And today, know the powerful truth of this promise: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine… Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you.“

God is speaking clearly. When we cannot trust ourselves, we can trust in the promises God makes. It’s not that we were baptized, it is that we are baptized.

Sometimes we make an active decision to follow Jesus; always God makes an active decision to choose us. Not just chose… choose. This means right now, this means “I have called you by name; you are mine” today!

– DEREK