ECWA Divine Food For The Day Daily Devotions

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022

TEXT: John 3:1-15

1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3. Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4. Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9. Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10. Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?”

11. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

12. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13. No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

15. that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

(English Standard Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Nicodemus was a well-respected Jewish teacher in Jesus’ day. So, for a man of his status to be seen favorably disposed to Jesus regarding eternal life must have drawn ridicule from the public and probably the wrath of the Jewish ruling council.

It is therefore not surprising that he went to see Jesus at night. Although Nicodemus merely affirmed that Jesus was a teacher sent from God as attested to by the miracles, Jesus knew what his problem was.

So, Jesus addressed the issue head-on: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again” (verse 3). To see the Kingdom of God means one becomes a child of God and Jesus noted that this is a spiritual exercise attained by faith in him: “Everyone who believes may have eternal life in him [Jesus Christ]” (verse 15).

There is no physical equivalent to how one becomes a child of God just as we cannot explain where the wind that blows comes from and where it is going.

QUESTION: If you are not born again, will you like to become a child of God now? Then study John 1:12, 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10.

PRAYER: Thank You, dear Jesus, for through You and by faith in You I have become a child of God, Amen.