Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 31, 2017
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. John 16:21
A new baby is a natural experience with a supernatural explanation. It is God’s reminder of His incredible grace, the gift of life. You can’t keep from staring at their little chubby fingers and their pinkish back and belly. They have the scent of freshness straight from their Heavenly Father’s handiwork. A new baby brings joy and attention to Jesus.
A new baby’s eyes have the look of the Lord’s love. Their coos are the sounds of their Savior’s caring whispers. Their cries resound with a need for Christ. Their tender feet are a foreshadowing of walking with Jesus through the ups and downs of life. A new baby brings back memories of a mom whose pain is quickly overcome by joy. Mostly a new baby illustrates God’s new birth of a soul. It is delivered into eternal life. A new baby points to the new birth. Just as the Lord delivers a physical life, so a spiritual birth is God’s supernatural act of a soul’s salvation.
Jesus explains the new birth, “Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit” (John 3:5-6, The Message).
Lastly, a new baby brings magnificent joy. The mom and dad are full of joy. The grand parents are teary eyed with joy, and the aunts and uncles are smitten by simple joy. Smiles cannot be contained around the mesmerizing affect of an infant. Prayers launch to heaven moment by moment from grateful hearts. Thank God for a new baby, and thank Him even more for those born into His Kingdom.
Jesus said, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing my family and friends with the joy of a baby.Application
Does my excitement for those born into God’s family bring pure joy and praise to the Lord?Related Reading
Genesis 3:16; Psalm 113:9; Luke 1:57-58; Galatians 4:27Post/Tweet today
Just as the Lord creates physical life, so a spiritual birth is God’s supernatural act of a soul’s salvation. #WisdomHunters #newbabyWorship Resource
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I believe your use of John 3 : 5-6 is not properly defined. This scripture deals with being born again in the spirit when we come to Christ, versus being born physically (of the water).
I was enjoying this morning’s devotional until I got to this verse: Jesus said, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).
I did not understand what this had to do with a New Baby, New Birth, Joy. Yes, the message was about rejoicing, even when you may not feel like rejoicing, but not in this way and usually when I get to the end, I feel it all connect and this did not do that for me.
Dear Randy,
Thank you for reaching out to us with your thought provoking comments. While I can completely understand the point that you are making, I think I understand Boyd’s line of thought by comparing the birth of a new baby and believers as “baby Christians” as we are first “born again” in the Spirit. By comparing these two “births” we are reminded of the similarities of these joyous, thankful, and God-breathed events. Boyd stated in “A New Baby”, “Prayers launched to heaven moment by moment from grateful hearts. Thank God for a new baby, and thank Him even more for those born into the kingdom”. Amen and Amen!
While I cannot speak directly for Boyd, I believe his intention is to remind us all of beauty of a physical birth and a spiritual birth, both God ordained.
“Just as the Lord delivers a physical life, so a spiritual birth is God’s supernatural act of a soul’s salvation” (“A New Baby” by Boyd Bailey).
Thank you Randy. We are always grateful and blessed to hear from one in our Wisdom Hunter’s family. We look forward to hearing from you again.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Psalm 90: 1-2
Dear Colette,
Thank you so much for responding to the devotional, “A New Baby” with your question about the connection between Luke 15:7 and the devotional itself. You make a good point and while I hesitate to speak directly for Boyd, I think I may be able to make a connection. Comparing a physical new birth (a precious new baby) and a spiritual new birth (A new believer born again), we see many similarities. Joyful!, Thankful!, and best of all: both God-Breathed!
So, what does all that have to do with Luke 15:7? My thoughts are: Heaven rejoices with just ONE sinner repents and believes as much as when 99 do! It is as much heavenly celebration for one “spiritual birth” as much as it is for many just like the celebration for one new baby as well as, the celebration for many others.
Colette, there is a good chance I have “muddied the waters” for you with my explanation and would love to further discuss this if you want to. Please email me gwynne@wisdomhunters.com if you would like to discuss this more.
In the meantime, please know that we love hearing from one in our Wisdom Hunter’s family and look forward to hearing from you again. We hope that you will continue to be blessed by the Wisdom Hunter’s devotionals.
Grateful for you~
Gwynne
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”
Psalm 105:1-3