Reflecting on John 3:1-10“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)
The literal wording here is ‘born from above’.
We need divine help to see and experience the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus has just expressed confidence in Jesus, as sent from God.
He seems to be sensing or seeing ‘the kingdom of God’ in Jesus.
When someone expresses an openness to Jesus, the Spirit of God is at work.
Even if they don’t realize it or understand it, God is still working.
Nicodemus is both seeking and struggling, as if the Spirit is birthing something.
I used to see this line (‘you must be born again’) as a warning.
Now I see this as an affirmation, an encouragement to a struggling seeker.
‘Nicodemus, you couldn’t see this on your own, God is doing something in you!’
If someone comes to me wondering about Jesus, this must be ‘from above’.
We can’t figure out when, where and how the Spirit is moving in us.
But just being open to Jesus, seeking to know Him more, is proof the Spirit is working.
We need to be more encouraging to seekers and strugglers, and not be hard on them.
Truly, as Jesus says, their struggle is a sign of the Spirit birthing life in them!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, for the first time I see these words as an encouragement to me and to all Jesus seekers. Our struggle and questioning is NOT a sign that we are not born again. Rather it is a sign that the Spirit of God IS at work, birthing faith and life in us! May I continue to be 'born from above!'
It is refreshing to look at this from a different perspecitve — I too always saw it as a warning. God encourages us to ask Him questions, seek His widsom and even wrestle with Him. It helps us to grow yet directives today seem to be discouraging us from having questions and to simply except what we’ve been told. That isn’t faith. LORD, help me to stop being distracted with the noise that’s interferring with being YOUR love, Your hands, Your feet to the world. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Yes, breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what / whoThou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do!
The spirit continues His work every day as I approach this day, ‘Lord, what are Your plans for me today?’ His will be done. He is first and He continues to be my Pilot. The Spirit continues to work among His people.
1 Spirit of God, who dwells within my heart,
wean it from sin, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are,
and make me love you as I ought to love.
2 I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.
3 Did you not bid us love you, God and King,
love you with all our heart and strength and mind?
I see the cross— there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek you and O let me find!
4 Teach me to feel that you are always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
teach me the patience of unceasing prayer.
5 Teach me to love you as your angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame:
the fullness of the heaven-descended Dove;
my heart an altar, and your love the flame