S - John
3:1-12 (TLJ): "There was a man named Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees. He
was an important Jewish leader. One night he came to Jesus and said, 'Teacher,
we know that you are a teacher sent from God. No one can do these miraculous
signs that you don unless they have God's help.' Jesus answered, 'I assure you,
everyone must be born again. Anyone who is not born again cannot be in God's
Kingdom.' Nicodemus said, 'How can a man who is already old be born again? Can
he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time?' Jesus answered,
'Believe me when I say that everyone must be born from water and the Spirit.
Anyone who is not born from water and the Spirit cannot enter God's kingdom. The
only life people get from their human parents is physical. But the new life that the Spirit gives a
person is spiritual. Don't be surprised that I told you, 'You must be born
again.' The wind blows wherever it wants to. You hear it, but you don't know where
it is coming from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is
born from the Spirit.' Nicodemus asked, 'How is all this possible?' Jesus
answered, 'You are an important teacher of Israel, and you still don't
understand these things? The truth is, we talk about what we know. We tell
about what we have seen. But you people don't accept what we tell you. I have
told you about things here on earth, but you do not believe me. So I'm sure you
will not believe me if I tell you about heavenly things!'" [my
highlight]
O -
Jesus says a lot about life on earth … a lot. His words about earth are clear
and easy to understand. The problem
is we don’t really believe him about earth while we're claiming to believe him
about heaven. We read his words about earth and then alter, ignore or
exempt ourselves from them. He says it
does not (implied: will not) work that way.
A - Am I
believing Jesus about earth (i.e. living out loud in my daily life the things
he says must comprise his followers earthly cadence)? Keeping/using the words
but denying their meaning is major indicator of the presence of the yeast of
the Pharisees. Today the point is
believing Jesus about earth in all things spiritual and practical unto
believing him about heaven and the kingdom that is so very near!
P -
Jesus who is Lord of heaven and earth,
Today (everyday) I want to,
choose by grace to, believe you. Thank
you for clear instruction, encouragement and description about life on
earth. I accept my purpose which is
loving God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and my neighbor as my
self. I welcome the work which is
believing. Lord, I will believe you
about earth unto the changed thinking which comes because the kingdom of
Heaven, and her King, is very near. I love you back.
Steve
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