Oh! I See!

Daily Reading: John 3

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3.3)

Devotional Thought: Jesus told Nicodemus, a very religious man, that the only way he could know the truth was by being born again.  Already in John, we have read that those who receive him, who believe in his name, become children of God (John 1.12).  And later in the book of John, we find Jesus telling his disciples that he is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and that no one could come to the Father except through him (John 14.6).

We see less and less of the kingdom of God in society today.  Why is this happening?  Jesus explained it in this chapter: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3.19-21).

The Apostle Paul wrote: "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4.4).  And "They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2.10, NIV).

"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."  Thanks be to God that we who have born again see the kingdom of God!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving me new life - and with that new life, eyes to see the kingdom of God.  Help me to keep my focus on you and the truth that is in you.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 35.1-8

1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!

3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation! ”

4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!

5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away!

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!

7 For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. 

8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!