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October DevotionalCelebrating a BirthdayOctober is a very special month in our family. We will celebrate the birthday of our son Kyle. He will turn nine years old on the 22nd, born a week earlier than the predicted due date of the 30th. We call him “Pumpkin Pie.” Interestingly, the day I went to the hospital we had gone to a local pumpkin patch and chose three pumpkins to decorate our porch; a large one for dad, a medium sized one for me, and a small one for the baby. Only hours later did I go into labor with our long awaited gift. And thus, we are celebrating his birthday in October. Two other special birthdays we are celebrating this month are those of my parents, only two days apart. This is a real blessing to be celebrating their lives, and a fun event for our son to share with his grandparents. As a mom, I now appreciate the word birth-day more than ever. I am reminded of my own mother’s sacrifice in giving me birth so many years ago — her labor lasting more than two days, without my father, remember the hospital rules in those days, No Dads allowed! What a gift — life! The sacrifice another human being gives so that another might come to life and be born into this world. We celebrate the day a baby is born yearly until their death, sometimes 90+ years later. But I believe we should celebrate from the moment of conception. It is God who celebrates us before birth. It says in Psalms 139:15, My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. I just think this is a wonderful assurance that God is part of every step of the human life. I teased my husband one day when we were counting the attendance for church by including the count of the unborn babies who were with their mothers in attendance. If we believe life begins at conception, should we not count the unborn — I’ll leave that as food for thought. But if the world believed life began at conception, as God believes, would abortion be a prevalent battle today? The word birthday should cause us all to reflect. It is a special day given by God; a day of introduction into a world that will forever be changed, a day that is great cause for celebration. It was in this same way that God chose to introduce his Son Jesus into the human world. Some two thousand years ago God chose for His Son to be born into our world just like every human baby is introduced onto earth. It was such a special occasion that He chose the lowly in life to give the announcement. This birth was not announced by a cute blue card with a picture. No, heavenly angels brought the news to shepherds and told them to go and see the babe first and then spread the news. Even Christ’s birth was announced with great adulation. We should celebrate the birth of every baby! Many celebrate with showers and gifts. But it seems ironic to me that somewhere down the line people begin to hate celebrating their own birthday. We should celebrate the birthday of every human being! It is a day of rejoicing that God gave life and has sustained it. Too many bemoan the fact of another birthday. I have not exactly figured out why. Have we bought into the lie of Satan that life is not precious? EVERY year of life is precious! It is another opportunity to live a life for that babe who came so long ago, grew up to be a man, and then died so that we could have eternal life. A birthday is a day to rejoice in the goodness of God, not in what we have done. I never see in scripture where Jesus dreaded celebrating another birthday. Can you imagine the disgrace it would have been to God, his father? The message of the wonder of a birthday should be given to those who are seeking to end the life of their baby in an abortion. The day of birth is a precious gift from God because it is a day of introducing a life made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We should seek to spread the news that God loves birthdays not only for the newborn, but for the child, teen, adult, and senior. I just cannot picture God saying, “Oh, I can’t believe that human being is celebrating another birthday. I just never had any intentions of them living to glorify me so long!” It is not only one birthday that God wants us to celebrate, he desires that we celebrate two: one of a human birth, the second as a child born into the family of God at salvation. There is a story in the Bible about a man who came directly to Jesus and asked him about the miracles he was doing (John 3). Jesus went directly to the heart of the matter. He told Nicodemus that he needed to be “born again.” This perplexed this Pharisee and he responded with, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”(v. 3). Jesus eloquently explained that he was the one that all must believe in and explained how that he was sent to give eternal life, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (v. 16). Jesus explained that two births were required for eternal life in Heaven after death on earth. The first is a human birth, the second a spiritual birth. Yes, this month we will celebrate three birthdays! And I am so excited about the preparations! It will be a time of rejoicing over lives that God chose to bring into this world, to display his image, to bring glory to his name. I pray that the next birthday you celebrate is one of rejoicing. Of looking forward to another year to celebrate the gift of life brought to you by your parents and God himself. It is a day to singing praises to the Almighty and worship him for all he has done for you. My second prayer is that you have experienced a second birthday. One you celebrate each year because you have been born into God’s family. The Bible says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [born again]. Romans 10:9, 13 So, this year, blow up the balloons! Strike up the band! Bring in the clowns! Let’s celebrate God’s gift of life, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). Let’s celebrate! If you are bemoaning another birthday, maybe you need to reconsider if you have been born again. Is life meaningful because of your second birthday? Are you doing good works to the glory of God? Have you forgotten what a wonderful gift life itself is? No more frowns, birthdays are for celebrating LIFE! Mrs. LeeAnn Fowler |
