A New Baby… “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 spotted 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 communication. Their cries resound with a need for Christ. Their tender feet are a foreshadowing of walking with Jesus through the up’s and down’s of life. A new baby brings back memories of a mom in pain that is quickly overcome by joy. Mostly a new baby illustrates God’s new birth of a soul. It’s 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 described it the best, “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, TM).
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 moment by moment from grateful hearts to heaven. 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). Does my excitement for those born into God’s family bring pure joy and praise to the Lord?
Related Readings: Genesis 3:16; Psalm 113:9; Luke 1:57-58; Galatians 4:27
Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading?
How will I respond?
