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…Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.” Romans 6:4, 8
What a beautiful time of the year! If you take a walk down the street or a drive through the countryside, you will see trees changing colors. Many of them are changing from their usual green to spectacular shades of reds, oranges and yellows.
This change of color that manifests such beauty is an interesting phenomenon. As autumn days get shorter and the temperatures drop, leaves begin the process of dying. In this process, chlorophyll which gives leaves their green color breaks down and allows other shades of color to come through. Therefore, it is in this process of dying that magnificent change occurs!
The same is true for us as God’s people! Through the process of Jesus’ death, we are magnificently changed. Because Jesus suffered and died on our behalf and rose again, our sins are broken down. We are changed by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, through the process of Jesus’ dying, we are displayed as the spectacular, redeemed people of God!
But the process of dying that manifests beauty continues. It happens daily as we live out our baptismal gifts of faith and salvation in Jesus. In the above verses, we are reminded that through the Holy Spirit given to us in Baptism, we are in the process of daily dying to sin and rising to new life. In Baptism, we are given power to die to sin’s temptations and our sinful desires. In Baptism, we are given power to live according to the beauty of God’s will and design for life. In other words through Baptism, we change colors! We become a beautiful display of God working in us.
And as the Holy Spirit lives in us, some of the “colors” that come through us are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol (Galatians 5:22-23). It’s a magnificent display that points to God’s presence in us! So, as the tree colors change around us, let us give thanks to God for their beauty…and for the way that He continues to change us into the beautiful design of His people. People who show forth compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness and love (Colossians 3:12-14).
God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Tuma