"Special Delivery," By Kelli Zaniel

Looking into the face of a newborn baby is probably the closest thing to looking into the face of God. I am so thankful God invited my husband and I to join Him in creating three new precious lives. Children, even though at times are extremely difficult, are our undeserved reward from the Lord. They are masterfully designed by the Creator. They are carefully delivered from the loving hands of Jesus into our eager arms and homes.

Our spiritual life is very similar to the development and birth of a baby. A developing baby loves the place of security, warmth and nourishment that is discovered and experienced within the womb of the mother. When the highly anticipated moment arrives for the baby to make the infamous descent down the birth canal, he or she must endure extreme pressure, overwhelming stress and intense shock of this adventure called birth. It is a complicated and difficult process. However, if the baby resists this journey and remains in the mother’s womb, where lets face it, sometimes, the party is over and they just do not want to leave, growth is no longer possible and the baby will die.

This process is a lot like the development and daily maintenance of our spiritual lives. “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,” (1 Peter 2:2). If we avoid the birthing process(es) of life, we may stunt and stagnate our spiritual growth. If we don't allow God to deliver us from the warmth and security of our comfort zone, the focus remains on us. If spiritual growth comes to a screeching halt, we will never achieve the divine intimacy with our heavenly Father that our hearts were meant to experience. “Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Get to know Him and give Him glory,” (2 Peter 3:18).

Just as the OBGYN delivers us physically, God delivers us spiritually because of the saving actions of Jesus' intervention at the cross. The physical delivery of a baby can be touched, definitely heard and experienced by all of our senses. Our spiritual birth or “re-birth,” is experienced through our childlike faith in God’s undeniable and amazing love for us. In both instances, we are delivered as a new life, either born from our mother’s womb or re-born by the grace of God.