"The king said to the guard who stood around him, 'Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David;"(1 Samuel 22:17)
Anger, jealousy, desire for power....these are seeds that can lead us down the wrong path. In our baptisms we promise to renounce evil---to turn away from these ways of death and turn toward life---to reaffirm our loyalty to Christ.
How often do we, in our anger or jealousy, feel justified to sanction another person's hurt...another person's downfall...another person's loss? In this story of the misuse of power by Saul, we may get so caught up in Saul's outrageous actions that we miss how closely they often mirror our own.
Question Do you renounce the evil powers of this world
which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Answer I renounce them.
Question Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your
Savior?
Answer I do.
Question Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
Answer I do.
Question Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
Answer I do.
---Holy Baptism, the Book of Common Prayer
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