Thomas and Timothy met their new brother, Titus, today. Until this weekend, my five and two year old grandsons have interacted with their brother through the bump on mom’s tummy. They’ve kissed him sweetly, talked to him and prayed for him, and starting last week, they’ve adjured him to hurry up and get here. In their young minds, his arrival would bring another playmate, ready to don baseball gear and join in their backyard games. He will indeed… eventually. Their mom has been preparing them for months for how fragile their new brother would be but her cautions were entirely abstract until today. “Gentle hands,” she repeats frequently. “Love brother easy.” Is this not the essence of what Jesus taught? Scripture is full of gentle reminders.
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Romans 12:10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.10.NLT
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
1 John 3:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.3.18.NLT
For my daughter’s family, having a newborn in their home again comes with a steep learning curve. Even though this is their third boy, he comes with his own unique needs and personality. Time will tell whether he is a good sleeper. Two nights are not enough to make that determination. His big brothers’ lives aren’t the only ones changing. Mom will carry on with mothering on less sleep and with one more person to be responsible for aside from herself. Dad will go back to work and juggle the demands of job and family. I’ve heard it said that going from one child to two is additive but going from two to three is exponential. Life goes on with necessary adjustments. Only now there is one more to love.
Titus’s arrival brings to mind other truths worth remembering, especially in times of change when new babies, new jobs, aging parents or old wounds push us to our limits physically, mentally or emotionally.
- Every person you will ever meet, from the tiniest baby to the oldest sage, no matter where in the world you travel is made in the image of God.
“So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.1.27.NLT
- No matter my need, I can boldly approach God’s throne because of Jesus
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.14-16.NLT
“O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!”
Psalms 71:5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.71.5-6.NLT
“I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.”
Psalms 146:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.146.2.NLT
- What I feed myself matters, nutritionally and otherwise. In order to thrive, infants need proper nutrition. A mother’s milk is custom designed by God for her baby.
“Like newborn babies, you should long for the pure milk of God’s word.
It will help you grow up as believers.
You can do this now that you have tasted how good the Lord is.”
1 Peter 2:2-3 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1pe.2.2-3.NIRV
- Life is sweetest when we all work together.
“Finally, all of you should be of one mind.
Sympathize with each other.
Love each other as brothers and sisters.
Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
Don’t repay evil for evil.
Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.
Instead, pay them back with a blessing.
That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it.
So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.
And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
But do this in a gentle and respectful way.
Keep your conscience clear.
Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.”
1 Peter 3:8-11, 14-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.9-14.NLT
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.8.NLT
I pray aloud with my grandchildren at every opportunity as I did with my own children. I want them to hear me calling their name before my Heavenly Father. I want them to know truth from His Word about themselves and the world He created them to govern. I pray verses like Luke 2:52 over them. Let Thomas, Timothy, and Titus, Amelia and Ezra grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man just like You did, Jesus. I pray Jeremiah 29:13. Lord, may they seek You and find You when they search for You with all their hearts. Be found by each one in Your perfect timing, Jesus. I thank God, recounting the events of the day and acknowledging answered prayers. When I saw this quote by the author of my favorite Read Through the Bible plan, it added a whole new dimension to my intercession.
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him.
He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”
Hebrews 7:25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.7.25.NLT
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
Romans 8:26-28, 31 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26-31.NLT
“You have built a stronghold by the songs of children.
Strength rises up with the chorus of infants.
This kind of praise has power to shut Satan’s mouth.
Childlike worship will silence the madness of those who oppose you.”
Psalms 8:2 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.8.2.TPT
His Glory and My Good ~CityAlight https://youtu.be/FUGAJuSkoiU?is=wZUT9qweEr0ftwvZ
A Fitting Reply 