Hospital for the Sick

This post is by my sister-in-law, Betty Roberts. (Known to us as Beautiful Betty!)  Betty is married to Chad, her husband of 10 years.  She is the homeschooling mom of three children: Tyler, Isaac, and Alyssa.  Betty has been a worship leader at our church for somewhere around 15 years.  Betty is the fifth child of seven in my husband's family, and has been my dear friend since before Billy Joe and I were married.  She is absolutely one of the most fun-loving people to be around!

 

Charmaine (left) and Betty (right)



I was sitting in church a few weeks ago, when my sister walked by. She was about 40 weeks pregnant at this point. The thought that went through my head was "When is Benjamin going to come already?!" The same question she was asked a million times. (So I kept it in my head, I didn't want to be the one she finally snapped at! lol!)

As I sat there though the Lord started speaking to me.  I'm going to share one of the things he showed me. It is nothing we haven't all heard.   Nothing profound, but it was made so real to me and I felt the need to share. (Thankfully I have a sweet sister-in-law who let me hijack her blog!)
     

  Anticipation

When someone close to us is about to give birth we are excited, anxious, and a lot of times, it is in the forefront of our minds.  We anticipate the arrival of this new precious little person.  In the same way we should anticipate our loved ones coming to Jesus, or their "re-birth".

When someone is about to have a baby we wake in the night to check our phone, look forward to the next check up, and just pretty much drive the poor mother-to-be insane watching her.  We should feel the same intense longing to see souls saved. It should be on our minds all of the time.  We should lie awake in the night praying!

To anticipate is to expect or predict something.  Just like we know that this baby is going to be born, we should KNOW that souls will be saved.  We should not just hope for the salvation of our family and friends, we should expect it, we should know that it is coming! 

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 

for kings and all who are in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  

 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires

all men to be saved and to

come to the knowledge

of the truth.  

 

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,  who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  1 Timothy 2:1-6

When the highly anticipated bundle of joy finally makes his/her appearance, we are beside ourselves with joy. We cry, laugh, and can't get enough of the baby.  The joy doesn't end that day!  For weeks, we have to see the baby every day (if not my heart will stop).  The family is blessed for a lifetime with a new member.  But if that baby isn't nurtured, fed, clothed and loved would it survive?

How many times do we see someone go to the front for salvation and then we never see them again? 
When a soul is re-born we need to remember that they are spiritually infants.  They need nurturing. They need love.  They need to be fed spiritually and encouraged, then they will grow to spiritual maturity.

       Ephesians 4:14-15

That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful

plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into

Him who is the head—Christ!

        2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

 This is something that I needed, and I hope it means something to someone else too. As the church we are a hospital for the sick, weak, and dying.  So let's hold on to people with all of our strength. Let's not just let them go back to their addictions and self destructing lives.

 It may not always be easy, or pretty. But it is what we are here for!