My daughter just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She (my daughter) and her husband are delighted, and my husband and I are overjoyed as well. The joy of new life reverberates throughout our family and friends as they hear about this precious child. Everyone celebrates with us.
This little one is just beginning to see and smell and taste the things she only heard about from inside her mother’s womb. Her eyes are open for the first time to the world around her and to those who loved her from before her birth.
This tiny, delicate human being is totally dependent on her mother and father for everything. Her first nourishment will be mother’s milk and it will be quite some time before her system can digest more complex sustenance.
Her parents will nurture and guide her as she grows and, though she’ll make mistakes along the way, their love for her will never waver. They’ll be pleased with each new skill that she develops and won’t ever stop cheering her on.
When she’s older, she may willfully disobey and want to go her own way on occasion. Yet when she returns, her loving parents will welcome her back with open arms and forgiveness in their hearts.
The joy we feel as we welcome this new life correlates with our lives when we are “born again” through Jesus Christ and begin following Him.
Jesus said to enter the Kingdom of God we must be born “of water and the Spirit”
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7
This new life will be different from our old life and will last forever
‘This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ‘ 2 Corinthians 5:17
…he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 NLT
When we are born again to follow Christ we are able to experience God in a way we only previously heard about
I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. Job 42:5
Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it. Isaiah 32:3 NLT
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalms 34:8 NLT
As baby Christians, we can only grasp the simple things of God
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 1 Peter 2:2-3
As we grow in Faith we can begin to learn the deeper things of God
For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:13-14
Fellow Christ-followers are cheering us on in our walk of faith
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT
At times we want to do things our own way but God is always calling us back to Him
“My wayward children,” says the Lord , “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God. Jeremiah 3:22
No matter how far we run from God, He is always waiting with love and compassion for us to return to Him
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Even more than earthly parents with their own child, God guides us, delights in us, and rejoices over us
For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Zephaniah 3:17
