Lots of Babies in the House!
1 Peter 1:2-3 As newborn babes, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow toward salvation—
When I think of Side by Side and Hand in Hand, I mostly think of people just like me. Those with the same lifestyle, those with the same leanings toward life, those with the same maturity in the different areas of life. I don’t normally think of standing side by side or hand in hand with babies, or for that matter, children.
I am an encourager by gift, but I have often thought of this as only useful for counseling and/or solving problems. QUICKLY!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man/woman of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work… QUICKLY!
This week, I was reminded (by the Holy Spirit) that NOT EVERYONE grows up quickly. Yes, yes, everyone must be born again and GROW UP… (John 3:7 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’…but I sometimes believe and act like this should only take a minute. I celebrate EVERY new birth. But I forget the months in utero and the labor pains it probably took to get here, I immediately begin to prepare a meal of, what some may call, college prep courses.
Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:13-15
Does what I intend to be encouragement, actually hinder the children from coming to Jesus or staying close to Him?
Say it aint so!
Long for pure spiritual milk! Yes, to encourage them to grow toward salvation, but NOT by putting them on a torture rack of NOW YOU MUST know the Christian rules, follow all of the church’s regulations and memorize entire books of the Bible. Because, somehow stretching them beyond their capacity to learn, ordering them grow NOW, rather than patiently WAITING, allowing them to grow at the pace God knows they need will result in my job being done quickly, so I can move onto the next big baby.
Might be quicker and easier to force growth, but force without grace and mercy, is guaranteed to leave wounds and scars, not to mention bitterness and possible PTSD memories which could cause unintentional behavior in their future fellowship with God.
For the sake of Encouragement 101, I humbly realize, as the Holy Spirit gently reminded, I needed some MIND RENEWAL, on the subject of caring for God’s children! And so…by the mercies of God, I presented my body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is my spiritual service of worship. And I will not be conformed to this world, but I will be transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
I needed…
A Renewed Position… not to be an authority on Child Rearing but a child of God who wishes to serve my siblings.
A Renewed Service… not to BE THE BOSS of them but to be an example of why I love God with my whole heart, my whole soul, and my whole strength.
A Renewed Life-Style… a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1), with the word of Christ richly dwelling within me, that I might, with all wisdom and teaching, admonishing myself and others, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)
Our Triune God is the ONLY perfect adult in the room. I am NOT! I never get His permission to bully my sibling or scare them into obedience with a false narrative of what their Daddy will do if they mess up. I only get to love them as I love myself! It isn’t the first time I’ve needed my mind renewed nor I’m sure it won’t be the last time!
But God!
Having… purified my soul in obedience to the truth, leading to sincere brotherly love…
I once again know it is God’s good and acceptable and perfect will that…
We shall love one another fervently from a pure heart.
We have been born again—not from perishable seed but imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:22-23)
Having tasted the kindness of the Lord. We come to Him, as living stones, being built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:3-5)
With Lots of Babies in the House, let me/us always remember that the first and immediate need is pure spiritual milk. The purest of which is knowing God and seeking first His kingdom.
No matter what age we are, newborn, toddler, teenager, semi-adult parental unit, or almost older than dirt such as me, we are God’s children IF we have believed with our heart and confessed with our mouth that JESUS IS LORD. Let us then remember who we are Standing Side by Side with. Let us then remember who we are Hand in Hand with.
Whether encouraging one another, or teaching one another, reproving one another, or just plain worshipping God with each other, let us always remember who we are talking to.
Whether talking to or about ourselves or any of our siblings, (regardless of age and/or position in our community), let us SEE THEM for who they/we are.
We are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession,
so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light;
We were once, not a people, but now we are the people of God ; we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
There are Lots of Babies in the House! Let us encourage/feed them with the purest of milk. The milk of God’s love! They are longing for it!
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.