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