One of our challenges for 2014 is to learn and live
all 50
commands of Jesus. Jesus told us that following his
commandments is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill
our lives (John 15:9-12). In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his
followers to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he
commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are
learning and living one command of Jesus. Here is our command for this
week...
Week 21:
Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can
see the kingdom of God without being born again." How can anyone be born
when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a
second time into their mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered,
"Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being
born of water and the Spirit,” (John 3:3-5).
Application:
Be born again.
What a strange concept. The
thought of it baffled Nicodemus.
Nicodemus was thinking of it from a physical stand point, but Jesus was
speaking of a spiritual rebirth.
My family recently welcomed a new baby into the
world. Our daughter Addison will turn 1
at the end of November. It has been a
while since we've been in baby mode. We
went through this with our son who is now seven. So we are learning about being born … again.
Living through this a second time with my daughter gives
me a greater appreciation of what Jesus meant when he commanded us to be born
again. The birth process is a complete
change of lifestyle. The baby goes from
living in the womb to living in the world.
They develop the ability to breathe and see in new ways. They learn how to eat. They learn how to move. They learn how to interact. They learn how to speak. They learn how to share.
When we become a follower of Jesus, it leads to a
complete change of lifestyle. We go from
living according to the ways of the world to living according to the ways of
God’s Spirit. Just as water is a part of
the natural birth process, God uses the waters of baptism in our spiritual
birth. God covers us with his love,
forgiveness, and eternal life, and God pours out on us the gift of the Holy
Spirit. The word Spirit comes from the
Greek word pneuma, which means “wind
or breath.” It reminds us of the how God
breathed life into the very first human.
As followers of Jesus, we learn how to receive God’s breath of life
through prayer, worship, scripture, and Christian community. The Spirit opens our eyes to see in new ways
– see God in new ways, see others in new ways, see life in new ways, see the
world in new ways, see our self in new ways.
We learn to feed ourselves with God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper. We learn how to walk with God and follow
God’s movement in our lives. We learn
how to interact with others on the basis of God’s love and grace. We learn how to speak in ways that encourage,
build up, and give life. We learn how to
talk about Jesus and what he is doing in our lives. We learn how to share the blessings God has
given us and maximize our gifts for God’s glory. In short, we are being born again. This is a continual process of growth every
day until we enter into eternity with God in heaven.
1)
What have been some of the biggest changes in
your life as a follower of Jesus?
2)
What are some of the ways you are currently
being born again?
Share your comments
and application ideas…
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