Devotionals for April 20, 2023
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READ
John 3:1-7
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
REFLECT
If you have been in church long enough, you have heard the phrase “born again.” You may understand it or you may kind of scratch your head as Nicodemus did and that’s okay. Let me encourage you to have the same curiosity that Nicodemus did when it comes to understanding the things of God. We learned yesterday that we are physically born spiritually dead. Being born again, simply means that your faith in Christ gives way for you to have a spiritual birth. Through spiritual birth, you are filled with His Holy Spirit, making you into a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Being born again means that your life is now defined by Christ, who lives in you. (Galatians 2:20) Do you see how we have gone full circle? We were created by God in His image to be image bearers of Him. Sin pretty much messed that up, making us spiritually dead, but through faith in Christ, we are born again, filled with His Spirit, and capable, through the abiding Holy Spirit to proclaim the excellence of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Makes me want to shout out praise to Him! What about you?
APPLY
Q: What is the correlation between being born again and seeing the kingdom of God?
Q: How has the Holy Spirit opened your eyes and changed your thinking?
Q: How will you follow the example of Jesus with the “Nicodemus” you encounter?
SING
Who You Say I AM
PRAY
"Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."
Lord, I praise you for the forgiveness of sins you have given me through Jesus Christ. I worship you as the God who overcomes, the God who brings me into your glorious light. Let your light shine through me so others see you and desire you.
READ
John 3:1-7
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
REFLECT
If you have been in church long enough, you have heard the phrase “born again.” You may understand it or you may kind of scratch your head as Nicodemus did and that’s okay. Let me encourage you to have the same curiosity that Nicodemus did when it comes to understanding the things of God. We learned yesterday that we are physically born spiritually dead. Being born again, simply means that your faith in Christ gives way for you to have a spiritual birth. Through spiritual birth, you are filled with His Holy Spirit, making you into a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Being born again means that your life is now defined by Christ, who lives in you. (Galatians 2:20) Do you see how we have gone full circle? We were created by God in His image to be image bearers of Him. Sin pretty much messed that up, making us spiritually dead, but through faith in Christ, we are born again, filled with His Spirit, and capable, through the abiding Holy Spirit to proclaim the excellence of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Makes me want to shout out praise to Him! What about you?
APPLY
Q: What is the correlation between being born again and seeing the kingdom of God?
Q: How has the Holy Spirit opened your eyes and changed your thinking?
Q: How will you follow the example of Jesus with the “Nicodemus” you encounter?
SING
Who You Say I AM
PRAY
"Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."
Lord, I praise you for the forgiveness of sins you have given me through Jesus Christ. I worship you as the God who overcomes, the God who brings me into your glorious light. Let your light shine through me so others see you and desire you.