Baptized, Holy Named
New birth, fresh earth, expectant time ahead;
Small life, safe from strife, of the family fed.
Grace pure, love secure, baptized, holy named;
Living stream, water clean, community proclaimed.
Time flows, choice bestows grief and pain thereof.
Far away, lost, astray, still christened by love.
Dark night, small light, chance to be reclaimed?
Hope springs, God sings, never was unnamed.
BRIDGE
Still today marked and sealed as a child of God,
forgiveness assured in water, not by acts but love.
New start, light heart, claimed again anew.
Washed clean, felt, not seen, hope comes into view.
Undeserved grace unearned given free to all.
In return, sincerely yearn to live out how we’re called.
From Rooted and Grounded in Love by Sarah Moore and Cooper Sherry, Copyright © 2013, used by permission
Devotion
“She has been baptized! God promised that there is nothing that can separate her from God’s love—“sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” This hope and confidence from a set of parents inspired Sarah Moore and Cooper Sherry to write and compose this song.
The daughter of these parents had run away—too young to be on the streets. In their powerlessness to help and protect their daughter, solace came in God’s baptismal promise—she had been named, claimed, and marked with the cross of Christ forever. NOTHING could separate her from God’s love. Sarah writes of that hope and joy.
The gift of baptism is an indelible reminder to all that God has promised, God has acted, God has named, claimed and sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are people of promise, and thus people of hope. With God’s promise “hope comes into view…undeserved…grace unearned.” And with that promise we “sincerely yearn to live out how we’re called.”
Prayer
Gracious one, continue to let the waters of baptism wash over us that we might live securely in your grace, and be empowered to let that light shine through us where other fears and dangers threaten to overpower. Amen.