Wednesday, March 16, 2011

John 2:23-3:15

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (3:1-8)
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1 comment:

  1. Mother Cynthia+March 16, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    How hard it is to do "right" by rules and doctrines we make. Can we believe that it's easier to be loved by God? Could say, "I'll feel saved if you prove to me...." Makes me tired expecting God to show me.

    Maybe it takes being at the bottom of the well to have no choice but to bury our faces in the dirt or look up to the light above. Scripture says we have choices: life or death. Chose life, light, love.

    Can we - will we - share how we were fed by God, how we have felt God's healing in our life?

    Tom Ehrich said - and I believe it's so true: It saddens me when churchgoing believers try to tell people about their church, rather than about their faith and what God is showing them. The hungry want to hear about food, not restaurants. The wounded want healing, not hospitals.

    Nicodemus was still blind to what was being offered him - perhaps a choice. There were no rules that he could respond to with his brand of perfect adherence.

    Being born of the Spirit is a given - if one would merely accept it. No rules, no perfect life. Life and love given, God's Grace.

    Hard to believe? Willing to accept and rejoice?

    No more victims. No excuses. No perfection except the perfecting Grace of God.

    God loves us enough not to leave us this way. Pass it on.

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