This Morning: "Choosing Life in Christ Over Death in the World"

This Evening: "The Good Shepherd of Psalm 23"

PRIMOGENITURE

------The Hebrew word is bekorah. The modern, technical term is primogeniture. It is by custom, culture, or law the right of the firstborn son to inherit his father's estate to the exclusion of younger siblings. This is a birthright and as the word suggests, it is not something that can be earned but a right that is given simply for being born. It was a common means of passing family property from one generation to the next in many parts of the world. The most recent form of primogeniture was in Europe where the Feudal System strictly enforced it for succession in land-holding families from the feeblest baron to the mightiest king.
-----Primogeniture was already an ancient practice when Europe adopted it in the Dark Ages. It was widely practiced in the areas now known as the Middle East. The earliest account of a birthright comes from the first book of the Holy Bible, Genesis. We read there of Esau who was one of the twin sons born to Isaac and his wife, Rebekah. Although his twin, Jacob, was born so closely as to be grasping Esau's heel, Esau was actually the first to leave Rebekah's womb and thereby became the firstborn son (Gen. 25:24-26). By being born first, Esau was entitled to inherit the substantial, physical estate of livestock, possessions, and lands that Isaac inherited from his father, Abraham (Gen. 25:5).
-----Primogeniture is hardly practiced these days for a variety of reasons. One reason being, as Adam Smith noted, that while dividing land between heirs was to dilute power, risk the ruin of succeeding generations, and destabilize the social order under systems in which land translated into power, the rise of Free Market Capitalism gave way to better forms of bequeathal (An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Book III.2, 1776). Moreover, the onerous taxes often levied against the estates of the deceased have hastened its demise. Aside from the financial reasons, the birthright is now seen culturally as an inequitable, obsolete, and useless relic of the past. Even the British have decided that the regal crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II will not be handed down to her son, Charles, but to her grandson, William.
-----However, the birthright is still and will forever be acceptable in one area of life. We don't often think of it as such but every Christian has the promise of a birthright. Like a physical birthright, it is given simply for being born but it is not given at physical birth. The Christian birthright is a spiritual inheritance that comes from God Himself when we are born spiritually. To become a Christian is to be reborn, as Jesus Christ explained to Nicodemus, adding, "'… unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit'" (John 3:5-6).
-----It is therefore at our spiritual birth in baptism that we may receive our spiritual birthright from God. Fittingly, baptism is also the point at which God becomes our Father. Jesus Christ is the firstborn of God's children and as our older brother, He makes the birthright available to all who follow Him. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba!' and 'Father!' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:14-17a).
-----Although by faith the spiritual descendants of Abraham (Gal. 3:27), the Christian birthright is far greater in origin and substance than anything Esau could have hoped to inherit. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Compare that to all the material wealth in the world and you can see that no promise holds nearly as much glory for those who would inherit it.
------- Neil

SCRIPTURE READING: _______John 10:7-18

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Sign-up sheet for 2012 monthly fellowshps is posted on the bulletin board. There are only 4 left!
• Feb. 12: Monthly Business Meeting 4:30 p.m.
• Agape Dinner: Saturday, February 25, 5:30 p.m. at the building
• Potluck Lunch: for February has been cancelled.
• The Asbury's have disconnected their home phone. Please use their cell numbers to contact them.
• David Kenney, an evangelist we support, has a TV program; Bible Talk. Access it http://my.pegcentral.com/index.php
• Pantry: Canned meat, canned fruit, cereal
• Men's Bible Study: Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., at the building

PRAYER LIST - ADDITIONS/UPDATES:
We give thanks and rejoice that Eileen Khan was Baptized into Christ!
Gloria Biller
WE ARE ALSO PRAYING FOR: Jan Worthy Driving to Va. Tech on Tuesday nights.Angela Rollyson, Charlene Viola, Sheri Emory, Todd Collier, Elliott Asbury, Tony Viola, Heather Pauley, Caitlin Worthy, Mary Ann Adkins, Pam Jaime-Yanez, Jason Collette, Brandon Crossway, Jennifer Crossway, Dallas & Margaret Barrett, Mrs. Goddard: Barb's mother, Connie's mother, Edgar Estep: Heather's grandfather, Eugene Miller: friend of Jerry's co-worker; Connie Delawder, Fay Pitsenbarger, Katie Hylton: 2nd High-Risk Pregnancy, Amber Hamilton; Stage 2 Breast Cancer, Gavin Bluemenour: 3 yr. old twin with Cancer, and Juanita Bullard: Lung Cancer.

Please keep Linda updated.