Just A Little Baby Boy?

   Children are blessings given to us by God. "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." (Psalms 127:3-5) The term "children" is found at least 1,540 times in our King James Bible. "Child" is found 185 times. The expression "little child" is found 10 times in our Bible. The term "little children" is found 20 times. The expression "children of God" is found 9 times in our Bible. The beautiful expression "children of light" is found 4 times in our Bible. Children can bring so many blessing to a family. As parents we must deal with our children as if they were a very special blessing from God.  There are approximately 4 million births each year in the United States. Since 1940 there have been about 91,685 more boys born each year in the United States than there are girls born. There are also approximately 2.4 million deaths each year in the United States. Sadly, there are also approximately 1,350,500 abortions each year in the United States. Abortion is the intentional killing of a baby after conception. It is so important that we love our children and teach them God's way. "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou  forget  the  things  which  thine  eyes  have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons." (Deuteronomy 4:9) Just a little baby? No! A child is a special and precious gift from God.

   Seth was not just a little baby boy; he was the continuation of the godly lineage of Jesus. Cain had killed his brother Abel. "And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." (Genesis 4:25) God granted or appointed this child in the place of Abel. Seth was raised up to carry on the godly line through whom Jesus would be born. In this godly line was Enoch the seventh from Adam. (Jude 1:14) In this same line 10 generation from Adam was Noah. The flood came 1,656 years after the creation. Jesus did not come from the line of Cain. His descendants were a line of unregenerate or ungodly men. The line of Seth was a righteous line, not of perfect people but it was a line of many who served God faithfully. Seth’s descendants often dwindled to a small remnant. But his seed was preserved until the coming of the Messiah. When the Flood came all the line of Cain perished. Noah and his family were found faithful to God. They were the only ones left after the flood. They were in the line of Seth. The Redeemer, the Son of God was born to Mary who was a descendant of Seth through Noah's son Shem. God kept His promise! Was Seth just a little baby boy? No! He was the godly seed through whose descendants the Messiah was born.

   Isaac was not just a little baby boy; he was the son of promise who showed that God keeps His covenants. Abraham was a man of strong faith. He loved God very much. "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3) God blessed Abraham by giving him large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. He also had many servants. The greatest gift that God gave Abraham was his son Isaac. "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him." (Genesis 21:1-5) It took 25 years for this promise to come to pass, but God's promises never fail. It was unusual among the patriarchs but Isaac's name was not changed and he did not leave Canaan. Isaac was the son of a famous father and the father of a famous son. Although he lived the longest of the four great patriarchs of Genesis; yet, the least is recorded about his life. Abraham lived to be 175 years old. (Genesis 25:7) Isaac lived to be 180 years. (Genesis 35:28-29) Jacob lived to be 147 years. (Genesis 47:28) Joseph was 110 when he died. (Genesis 50:26) Was Isaac just a little baby boy? No! He was the promised son and godly seed through whose descendants the Messiah was born. 

   Jesus was not just a little baby boy; He was the promised Savior of the world. Matthew wrote, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) Jesus is Emmanuel or God with us. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. "Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) He is the Christ, the great Prophet, Priest, and King; the Messiah promised in past generations. Jesus has life in Himself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4) His name is "Jesus." The reason for this name is, "He shall save His people from their sins." He is willing to be Savior of all who will come to Him. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17) Jesus saves from the guilt of sin by His blood. He saves from the control of sin by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24) Have you allowed Jesus to save you from your sins? Was Jesus just a little baby boy? No! He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

   "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26) It is necessary to be in Christ in order to be saved. But it is not enough just to have been baptized into Christ. In Christ we must live faithfully to the end. To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Christ (Mark 16:16), repent of all sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:36) and be bap­tized for remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) After baptism remain faithful to God. (Revelation 2:10) May God help each of us to remember who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

1. Prayer List: Jackson Hospital: Dorman Murff and UAB Hospital Birmingham: Eugene Moss. In Need Of Prayer: Joe & June Adams, Mike Bagents, Dee Barker, Jerry Barr, Ricky Blackburn, Brenda Burkett, Becky Chaney, Jessie Claunch, Bonnie Croley, Marie Curlee, Jimmy Davis, Ron Fisher, Bryan Harville, Billy Heartsill, David Jones, Larue Kelsoe, Patrica Kennemore, Dot Killingsworth, Jerry Little, Callie Lowe (aunt of Felice Kendrick and David Stallings), Larry Lucas, Clifford McCarter, Annie McKee, Taylor Merry, Charlotte Miller, Jeff Miller, Doris Mosley, Barbara Parker (sister of Lisa Garlock), Tina Pouncey, Betty Pruitt, Joan Radcliff, John Reynolds, Olivia Reynolds, Lillie K. Rice, Jimmy Riley, Ricky Roberts, Katie Sanders, Mary Sasser, Paul & Hazel Shoemaker, Nathan Simmons, Sarah Stidham, Rick Sormude, Leisha Till, Charlotte Todd, and Calvin Webb. Crowne Health Care: Helen Autrey, Dorothy Buck, Jewel Cauthen, Gladys Childs, Betty Findley, Kathy Johnson, Sarah Knight, Glenn Phillips, and Annie Ruth Tetter. 

2. Requesting Prayers: Prayer has been requested for the family of Robert Holmburg. Robert died recently and we extend our sympathy to his family.

3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Jim Till and Susan Pope and their families in the death of their uncle, Dick Till.

4. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week are: November 15^th Joan Barr, November 17^th Dalton Gross, November 18^th Alaina Bagents, and November 19^th Thomas Till and Florida Wilson.

5. Thank You: Jerry Barr expressed his thanks to the church for all the loving compassion that has been shown to him during his time of sickness. Please continue to pray for Jerry often.

6. Exposure Youth Camp 2011: Exposure Youth Camp is December 27-30, 2011. It takes place in the Embassy Suites Hotel and Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Darrell will take the youth group from Walnut Street. Camp cost will be covered. See Darrell for other details. 

7. Church Budget: Our weekly budget for 2011 is $6,699.16. Please give as God has given to you! Give generously and God will bless you. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)

8. Bring a Visitor: Set your goal to make an honest effort to bring a visitor to the services of the church. There is someone that we can all influence to go to heaven. Let us all join together and win souls for Jesus. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

9. Radio Programs: Q94 (94.3) Sunday 8:30-9:00 am, Weekdays at 12:30 pm. WKXN (95.7) Sunday 8:00-8:15 am. Listen daily.

10. Bible Classes: Our Elders have made a special appeal for everyone to attend Bible Classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Do your best to be present. You will learn more of God’s word and you will likewise encourage other by your attendance! Thanks to all of our wonderful Teachers!

11. Crowne Health Care: As is our custom there will not be a class at Crowne Health Care on the Saturday following Thanksgiving (November 26^th) and the Saturday following Christmas (December 31^st). A special “Thank You” is expressed to all who help with the work at Crowne Health each week. What you do is a blessing to the folks who live there.

12. You can help: Here are some things we call all do to help around the building. (1) After you finish singing please return the song book to the rack instead of leaving it on the pew. (2) If you see doors unlocked when they should be locked, please lock them. (3) If you see lights or air conditioners on when they should be off please turn them off. Thank you.

Let Everything Be Done With Love

(I Corinthians 16:14)

   So many commands and warnings are given in God’s word. Each of which is important and necessary for us to obey. But, underlying each and every command that we’ve been given there is the supplication to love. Jesus, when asked, “what is the great commandment in the law?” answered, “Love the Lord with all your heart,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:36-40) In I Corinthians 13, Paul says much about the superiority of love over other spiritual gifts.  And in I Corinthians 16:14, he says, “Let all that you do be done with love.”  There are many commandments that we’ve been given, and that we may be following, but all of them must be done with love.

   If Christ’s church is to be as He prayed that it would be there must be unity. (John 17:11) There must be a common understanding and teaching of God’s word. (I Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 3:16) However, amid the pursuit of unity among the brethren, love must be ever present. Love is what gave mankind the hope of salvation (John 3:16), therefore, we must believe that love can be a powerful element in unifying the church of Christ. I am aware that at times, no amount of love in our exhortation may conquer man’s self-will. But we must never exhort without love, nor love without exhortation, for either would lead to destruction.

   There are many good works for God’s saints to do. James said, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) It is wrong to neglect the good works of God, but is it not also folly to practice them without love? Be careful that you do not become weary in doing good works, (Galatians 6:9), for when weariness comes, desire and motivation often depart.  

   I implore you to let love abound in all that you do.  (I Thessalonians 3:12) “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”  (1 John 4:7-8)

- - - - Darrell Powell

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551