Thought of the Day !!

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. – John 3:6 (NIV)

This comes from a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, who is a Pharisee, but is seeking the truth from Jesus.  Jesus is explaining how to “see the kingdom of God”. 

“Flesh gives birth to flesh”.  This is pretty self-explanatory.  We’ve all heard about the birds and the bees.  We know where babies come from.  In this life human beings mate and babies are born.  “Flesh gives birth to flesh.”

All humans have been born in this way.  But not all humans are born a second time.  The first birth is physical.  The second is spiritual.  The first is temporary.  The second is eternal.  The first is someone else’s decision (parents).  The second must be yours.

Being born again is not just a decision that we make to accept Jesus.  It’s a gift from God and is born out of His Holy Spirit.  His Spirit and our spirits join and intertwine to become one.  We are no longer the old person we once were, but a new creation in Christ Jesus.  This is why I believe that once we’re born again, we should feel different.  We will still have temptations and struggles, but there will be a different feeling about them.  Our outlook on life will begin to change. 

Being born of the Spirit means that the first step to eternal life has begun.  This is a life that will eventually be free of all fear, doubt and pain.  Though we will strain in this life as we learn to live into this spiritual body of ours, we will one day understand pure joy that comes with being born of the Spirit.  And what a wonderful day that will be when it comes. 

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. – 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

We have all sinned and fallen away from God.  We’re all guilty.  Not one of us is able to stand before a perfect God and claim that we are without fault. 

That being said, the perfect God that we come before has decided, out of love and great sacrifice, to pardon us.  This came at a great cost to Himself.  Though we may claim that this is true, have we really paid attention to what this means?  1 Corinthians 6:20 tells us that we were bought with a price.  The New Living Translation adds “a high price”.  This “high” price is Jesus’ own sweat, tears, agony, pain…his own blood.

How often have I taken this for granted and lived my life like a spoiled kid who forgets how much of a sacrifice a parent makes for him or her.  How often have I lived as though this freedom of mine is well-deserved? 

God doesn’t want us to be loaded down with guilt.  We shouldn’t go through life believing we have to pay Him back somehow.  But we should take seriously the cost, and live accordingly.  This means living life abundantly for Jesus, which is ultimately loving Him more than anything and loving each other as evidence of the love we have for God.

I urge you to meditate (think deeply about) who your life is really lived for most.  Speak to Jesus today and ask forgiveness for where your life is more about you than Him.  Seek God’s presence through His Holy Spirit to show you the way to a more abundant life.  And find your joy in Him.

In the love of Christ,

greg 

Thought of the Day !!

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right. – Titus 2:14 (NLT)

Jesus gave his life for us so that we could be redeemed, or freed from the guilt of our sins.  The only thing we have to do is accept his love for us.  And when God's Holy Spirit envelopes us, where Jesus begins abiding in us (and us in him), then we become different people.  We become more repentant people desiring change and who are committed to doing what is right.   

In other words, because we are saved by God's grace and have chosen to have Jesus living in us, we are born again as different people.  We have something different guiding us.  We have Jesus in us.  When we were born of flesh and blood, our heart was filled with things of the flesh.  When we are born again of the Spirit, our heart is filled with the Holy Spirit.   

(Jesus said) "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, `You must be born again.'" - John 3:5-6 (NLT) 

Have you been born again?

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. – 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)

Believe it or not, God wants us to feel sorrow.  He doesn't want us to hurt for just no reason.  His desire is that we have a sorrow in us that makes us feel bad about our sin.  

I was at a spiritual retreat one time sharing a testimony about my life when I told the group that God made me feel guilty about some things in my life.  One of the men there said that God doesn't make us feel guilty.  Well of course He does.  We call it our conscience.  And God uses this to help us see what we're doing wrong and to lead us to the sorrow over sinfulness that will then lead us to change.  

If we had no sorrow in life, we would feel no need for repentance.  If we were perfect people still living in the Garden of Eden this would be fine.  But we're not.  

So think about the things you do or say that later bring about a tinge of guilt or sorrow.  Find those things that you've learned to live with, looking past the guilt and sorrow, and repent of them.  If you feel even a little sorry or guilty about something, odds are that it's your conscience telling you that it's wrong and you need to repent.  

In the love of Christ,

greg

A Christmas Thought of the Day !!

This is the last devotion of the year.  We will start back in 2016 after taking next week off. - greg 

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. – Luke 2:1-7 (NRSV)

Today will be a busy day for many getting last minute shopping or cooking done.  It will be a day of sorrow for some because while everyone else is happy they deal with loss or some other sadness this season.  And then there are those who will find joy in the preparations and the excitement of the gift-giving and family gatherings and all the rest that comes annually at this magical time of the year.

No matter what is going on in your lives today, stop and remember the reason for Christmas.  Go back to the Bethlehem with Joseph and Mary, with shepherds and angels, and relive the magical story of God coming down to dwell with us.  Find the joy of a baby and the love of a Savior.  Seek the guidance of a Messiah and the forgiveness of the one filled with grace.  

Today seek Jesus in the gatherings, the gifts and celebration.  Find Him not only in a manger but also in your home...in your midst.  May the Joy that came down some 2000 plus years ago fill you today as you celebrate Him.

Merry Christmas!! 

greg