Week of 7/28 - 8/1/2025
5 Day Devotional
Day 1: From Death to Life
Devotional
Have you ever considered what it means to be truly alive? In our physical world, we define life by heartbeats and brain activity. But spiritually, life has a deeper meaning. Before knowing Christ, we exist in a state of spiritual death - separated from our Creator, disconnected from our true purpose. Baptism marks the profound transition from this spiritual death to true life. When we are immersed in those waters, something miraculous happens. We aren't just getting wet; we're participating in a divine mystery. We are symbolically buried with Christ, our old self submerged and left behind. Think about what this means for your daily struggles. That person who was bound by sin, shame, and failure? That person died with Christ. The you who emerges from those waters is fundamentally new - alive in ways that matter eternally. This isn't just religious symbolism. It's a spiritual reality that should transform how we see ourselves. Today, whatever challenges you face, remember your true identity. You are not defined by your worst moments or greatest failures. You are defined by your union with Christ - dead to sin and alive to God.
Bible Verse
"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." - Romans 6:6
Reflection Question
How might your daily decisions change if you truly lived from the perspective that your old self has died with Christ and you are now a new creation?
Quote
"Without Christ, we're all, in a sense, the walking dead, alive physically, but spiritually separated from God through sin. Yet the good news of the gospel proclaimed in today's scripture readings offers us something far greater. We who were dead can now truly live."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of new life through baptism. Help me to live today as one who has died to sin and been raised with you. When I'm tempted to return to old patterns, remind me of my true identity in you. Amen.
Day 2: The Waters of Transformation
Devotional
Water is essential for physical life, but in baptism, water becomes the vehicle for spiritual transformation. The symbolism is powerful - water cleanses, but it can also overwhelm and destroy. In baptism, both elements are present. When we enter the baptismal waters, we're symbolically entering a tomb. Our old self, with all its sinful patterns and broken ways, is submerged. The waters of judgment pass over us, but because we are united with Christ, we don't remain in death. We rise again, just as Jesus rose on Easter morning. This isn't merely a one-time historical event we commemorate. It's a spiritual reality we participate in. The transformation of baptism isn't just about changing our religious affiliation or joining a church. It's about fundamentally altering our identity and existence. Each day presents opportunities to live from this new identity. When temptation comes, we can remind ourselves that the person who would yield to that sin has been crucified with Christ. We have been raised to walk in newness of life. This isn't about willpower; it's about living from the reality of who we now are in Christ.
Bible Verse
"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." - Romans 6:4
Reflection Question
In what specific area of your life do you need to remind yourself that you have died to sin and been raised with Christ to new life?
Quote
"In baptism, we're united with Christ in his death. The water in the sacrament of baptism symbolizes a cleansing, but also a tomb. As we are buried with Christ, it represents both the waters of judgment and the waters of new creation."
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the transforming power of baptism. Help me to remember that I have been united with Christ in both his death and resurrection. When I face temptation today, remind me that I am no longer bound to sin but free to live for you. Amen.
Day 3: Righteousness from the Inside Out
Devotional
What does it mean to be righteous? For many, righteousness conjures images of rule-following and moral perfection. But Jesus challenges this limited understanding. He calls us to a righteousness that exceeds that of the most meticulous rule-followers of His day. True righteousness isn't about external compliance but internal transformation. Jesus teaches that sin begins in the heart - anger precedes murder, lust precedes adultery. If we want to live holy lives, we must address not just our actions but the thoughts and desires that drive them. This is only possible because of our union with Christ. Through baptism, we've been given a new heart and a new spirit. We're no longer trying to reform our old nature; we're learning to live from our new nature in Christ. This righteousness should permeate every aspect of our lives. We don't compartmentalize our faith, being one person at church and another at work or home. Instead, our identity in Christ shapes how we treat family members, colleagues, and strangers alike. The love of Christ flows through us in every relationship and situation.
Bible Verse
"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." - Romans 6:20
Reflection Question
Where have you been focusing on external behavior while neglecting the condition of your heart? How might addressing your thoughts and attitudes lead to more authentic righteousness?
Quote
"Jesus is pointing to something deeper than conforming to rules. He's calling us to a righteousness that flows from a transformed heart. And remember, righteousness simply means being right with God."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, search my heart today and reveal any attitudes that don't align with your love. Help me to cultivate righteousness from the inside out, not just changing my behavior but allowing you to transform my thoughts and desires. May your love flow through me in every relationship. Amen.
Day 4: Undivided Faith
Devotional
We often compartmentalize our lives - work in one box, family in another, faith in yet another. But the transformation Christ offers doesn't fit neatly into one compartment of our lives. It's meant to permeate everything. When we truly grasp that we have died with Christ and been raised to new life, every aspect of our existence is affected. Our faith isn't just for Sunday mornings or private devotional times. It shapes how we speak to our children, how we treat our coworkers, how we drive in traffic, and how we respond to political differences. Genuine righteousness is both deep and wide. It reaches into the depths of our hearts, addressing our most private thoughts and motivations. And it extends to the breadth of our lives, influencing every relationship and interaction. This isn't about perfection but direction. Are we allowing Christ's love to increasingly influence every area of our lives? Are we becoming more integrated, with our faith informing our entire existence rather than being cordoned off to certain times and places? This is the journey of discipleship - becoming whole, undivided followers of Jesus.
Bible Verse
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Romans 6:8
Reflection Question
What area of your life have you been keeping separate from your faith? What might it look like to invite Christ's presence and influence into that area?
Quote
"Our faith isn't meant to be divided into separate parts, with one part for church or one part for home and another part for work. Instead, it's all about one offering our trust in God, how we treat others, how we live every day."
Prayer
Father, forgive me for compartmentalizing my faith. I invite you into every aspect of my life today - my work, my relationships, my recreation, my finances, my thoughts. Help me to live as an undivided follower of Jesus, with my faith informing everything I do. Amen.
Day 5: Living Our Baptism
Devotional
Baptism isn't just a past event; it's a present reality we're called to live into each day. Every morning offers a new opportunity to remember and embrace our baptismal identity - dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. The ancient church understood this well. Early Christians would often touch water to their foreheads upon waking, remembering their baptism and their identity in Christ before facing the day. This simple ritual reminded them of who they were and whose they were. We too can find ways to remember and live our baptism daily. When we participate in the Eucharist, we enact this mystery again - the bread broken and wine poured out representing Christ's death, the very death into which we were baptized. As we receive these elements, we're nourished by the risen Christ for our new life in Him. From font to altar, from baptism to Eucharist, our Christian identity is formed and sustained. And we're sent forth to proclaim through word and deed that the dead can live again through Christ. This is the good news we've experienced, and it's the message our world desperately needs to hear.
Bible Verse
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." - Isaiah 61:1
Reflection Question
What daily practice might help you remember and live from your baptismal identity? How might this transform your witness to others?
Quote
"Each time we dip our fingers into the font there and mark ourselves with the sign of the cross. Each time we witness an actual baptism, which I pray we'll have soon, or each time we renew our baptismal vows, we remind ourselves of this fundamental truth. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of baptism that unites me with you in your death and resurrection. Help me to live today as one who has died to sin and been raised to new life. May my words and actions proclaim the good news that through you, the dead can truly live. Use me to share this message of hope with someone who needs to hear it today. Amen.