Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

Multiplication (and Reproduction)

I keep re-hashing this past Sunday's message from the Christmas story. I'm not sure it was one of my best messages as far as presentation goes, but the guts of it really connected with what I feel God's heart is for this season at Pathway. I was just reading in my devotional time the book of Genesis.

Genesis 1:12 God created vegetation in such a way that it would bear fruit, it would reproduce its same kind!

Genesis 1:21 God created creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing in water (and birds), and commanded them to be fruitful and increase in number!

Genesis 1:28 God created man and told them to be fruitful and multiply!

It's God's heart that reproduction happens! Ok…I'll admit, that sounds a little funny that I would talk about reproduction…but it's true! Multiplication and reproduction are simply God's way.

This is what I'm getting at - If you choose to be a follower of Christ, that means instantly you have a call on your life to go and make disciples, multiplication and reproduction! It's not an option. Every one of us leading someone! Do you take this seriously? Interesting stuff…

What happened to Joseph?

Where is Joseph at the cross - that is the question I just asked myself as I've been studying all day. John records that Jesus told the disciple whom he loved (probably John) to look after his mom…and that disciple did by taking her into his home. Therefore, we know Mary was a widow. This question led me to come to the conclusion that Joseph died. Matthew 13:55-57 doesn't mention Joseph, just the fact that Jesus is the carpenter's son, his mother's name is Mary, etc…would be easy to assume then that as of the time period of Matthew 13, Joe was not with us. Some believe that Joseph died some time after Jesus turned 12. Fact of the matter is, at some point between Bethlehem and the cross, Jesus lost his dad.

Makes a guy who also lost his father at 15 look at Hebrews 4:15 in a little different way… 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Jesus knew the pain of losing an earthly father. Jesus probably knew what it was like to long for his loved one to be with him at the different seasons of his life.

Not sure why this hit me today, but it did. He's a good God.

Caleb Cripe at the CAN/AM Swim Meet!

Follow my nephew Caleb Cripe via his blog as he swims at the CAN/AM swim meet in LA this week! He, Shayne, and Gary (and his brothers) travel to California today. Competition starts on Thursday of next week! Thanks to the Middlebury Community for sending them for the week!

Here's a video from about a year ago about Caleb and his swimming...