-June 27, 2023-
Good morning, happy Tuesday,
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.”
(John 3:6-7).
What a day it was when Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the teacher, and ruler in Israel came by night to speak to Jesus. At first he was curious about Jesus that he had heard so much about. He knew that He was a teacher and had done many signs and God was with Him. He wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. We are the beneficiaries today of the conversation he had with Jesus.
Jesus told him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was confused what Jesus meant, for this terminology is not found in the OT. He wondered how this could be that man who is old could be born a second time. How could he enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time? Jesus explains it to him so he could understand, and we could understand as well.
When one is born naturally into this world it a a wonderful and beautiful thing. Today is my 66th birthday. My father passed away and my mother is 95. My brother is 79. I am thankful for them and how blessed I have been and am today. I am so thankful. Life on earth is so short, is filled with troubles and trials, blessings and good times. I am thankful for all that I have learned and experienced in this life.
As good or bad as life can be, the most important thing is to be born again, born from above, born of the Holy Spirit. Without the second birth we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Jesus tells this to Nicodemus twice in John 3:1-21. Nicodemus became a believer though a secret one. After Jesus was crucified, he joined Joseph of Arimathea in taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, anointing His body for burial, and laying it in Joseph’s tomb.
There is nothing better than the new birth. Peter later wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4-5). Someone once said, “If you are born once, you will die twice, but if you are born twice, you will die only once.” The first birth birth is physical, the second birth is spiritual. Death is also in two forms: the physical death of the body and the second death is of the soul and spirit in hell.
Being born into God’s family occurs when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We have all the rights and privileges of sonship. Through faith in Christ we are adopted into the family of God. If the Lord Jesus comes before we die, we will be raptured. Either way we will be with the Lord forever. I am so happy for my two birthdays: the natural one and most of all the spiritual one.
Have a wonderful and blessed day rejoicing in your spiritual birth. Stay safe and healthy.
Enjoying my birthday 🎂 today, and serving the Lord until He takes me home to heaven,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 