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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 43, OCTOBER 31, 2004 BABIES The births of little Haden and Breanna got me to thinking about babies in general. It never fails to happen here at Northern Kentucky. One of the young couples has a baby and the whole congregational family rejoices together and eagerly awaits the opportunity to get to see the new child. Before long the baby arrives in the arms of mom or dad and we all gather around, genuinely happy for the parents and grandparents and marveling at another new life in our midst. You can see in the eyes of a lot of us that the words, “Can I hold him (or her)?” are right on the tip of the tongue and offers of free babysitting fill the air. If you happen to look at the elders you will find them trying to figure out where to put another child in the nursery class, but happy to have that kind of problem to deal with. I really appreciate the biblical comparison of a new born baby to a recently “born again” individual. At services we are all aware when a baby is hungry – the little person lets its mother or father, and everybody else, know that it is time to eat. There is an urgency in the voice that says, “I want to eat and I want to eat NOW!” Isn’t it wonderful to see new brothers and sisters in Christ when they are the same way? Peter used the comparison in 1 Peter 2:2, when he wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” So often with new Christians there is an urgency about them - a need to fill their hearts and minds with the Word of God. Our job is to help them do that. Have you every noticed that sometimes when things are very quiet in the service and you could hear the proverbial pin drop, some poor little child will fall off of the pew or fling itself around and smack its head? The whole congregation holds it breathe as we wait to hear when the scream is going to come and how loud it is going to be. Then, after the initial scream, we all wait to see if the little person is going to catch its breathe again. Little kids make mistakes. So do new Christians. We never expect a newborn child to know everything; we can’t expect a new Christian to know everything either. The Hebrew makes it clear that it is a learning process. In Hebrews 5:12-14, we find, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Bible knowledge is not something that happens overnight nor is it miraculous. It takes time and effort. We give babies a chance to grow. It is important that we make sure we do the same for the “born again” babes. Even after the initial interest and excitement when a new baby comes to services for the first time, do you notice that folks continue to gather around and admire and love that little baby? As the months and year go by the interest doesn’t wane; we will still be saying, “What a cute fellow!” or “She sure is getting big!” We must make sure we are just as excited about those new born “babes in Christ,” and as the months go by, be careful that our interest in them does not wane either. Greg Litmer TRAGEDY A tragedy occurs at every Sunday and Wednesday night service. Brethren who could be present are absent. Encouragement that could be received or offered is lost. Bibles that could be studied are left unopened. Songs that could be sung are neglected. All these things are true tragedies. The worst part of it all is the fact that it doesn’t have to be. Will you meet with the saints at every service? If not, why not? INVOLVEMENT It is impossible to over-emphasize the importance of involvement. It is involvement which provides the power by which projects are not only begun, but brought to fruition. It is involvement which bring the joy of accomplishment. It is involvement which breeds confidence for the next enterprise. To be involved is to be a part. In fact, the word means “to be intertwined.” What fine things could be accomplished it there were more “intertwinement!” It is the key to our getting done all that God want us to do. Are you involved? Dee Bowman Somebody said, “We must teach our children by good example all the time for, like salesmen, we can’t be sure which part of the demonstration will do the selling.
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