Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3)
The Israelites remained true to God’s Word to be “fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), even while they were in bondage for more than 400 years in Egypt. In those harsh conditions, giving birth to children demanded the services of midwives. The midwives assisted the mother in the process of birthing the child – often cutting the infant’s umbilical cord, washing the baby, and presenting the newborn to the parents and family. However, as vitally necessary as the midwives were in the physical realm of the people of God, the Master has no need of them in the spiritual realm.
Here is why the Master has no need for His disciples to play the role of midwives: Because we play no role in the birth of the new believer! That new birth is all the work of God and His grace. God gives the gifts of repentance and faith. God raises the dead to life. God in Christ does it all, with no help from midwives. There is no need for any of us to cut the cord, wash the baby Christian, and present the infant to the family of faith. There is, however, a need to step into the life of the baby Christian — from the moment after new birth until his or her last day on this earth.
The role of the Christian is to disciple the new believer, not deliver him. We are to make ourselves available to God to be used as instruments of sanctification in His mighty right hand. The first and most important aspect of sanctification is the renewing of the mind, and that comes through the reading of Scripture. We are to bring the Word of God to all those with whom we come in contact. And the good news is we don’t need to interpret the Word for them, because the Bible is its own interpreter.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
In other words, you don’t need to be a Bible scholar to disciple a new believer; you only need to be a model of Bible study and a living encouragement to search the Scriptures daily.
How are you doing at helping others grow up in their faith? Remember, the Master has no need for midwives, but He does need willing workers who will lead others through the pages of sacred Scripture. After the new birth, which is solely the work of God, it is our calling to help the new believer understand what it means to believe, belong, and become a fully-functioning member of the family of faith.
Biblical truth received and responded to does more than change behavior. It renews the mind, realigns the will, and recalibrates the heart. And this is the business of making disciples, which is the call on every believer . . . not in birthing new Christians, but in helping them grow to maturity.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 