DEVOTION // Nata et renata

A Facebook friend shared news he uncovered from the birth record of his 6th great grandmother. She was from Musberg, Germany (near Stuttgart). 

What I find especially cool about this entry is that first of all it has some notations in Latin, when quite typically records were all in German. Her record says on Saturday, the 7th of June, 1732 she was "nata et renata." That is, born and reborn, through the waters of baptism. What a beautiful reminder of the grace of God to us in baptism, and an opportunity to reflect on how God preserves and extends his Church through families over the generations. 

Most of us celebrate our birthdays. But have you ever celebrated your re-birth-day? Our baptism day is even more of a cause of celebration than the day of our birth. It was on that day that God assured us that in Jesus our sins are washed away and that he has written in name on us to signify we belong to him.

"Baptism now saves you," Peter writes. "Not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21, EHV). Baptism works the faith that connects us with Jesus' Easter victory for us. 

It's true: Our "nata" is worth celebrating. But our "renata" is worth celebrating even more.