Month: March 2020

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
John 3:9-12

Jesus used many different things to teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven. He knew we would not understand how Heaven really is because we can’t comprehend its glory and majesty. Often He told us “the Kingdom of Heaven is like…” and used an earthly example to try to help us envision it.

Now speaking to Nicodemus, He underscores that point in verse 12 “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” Jesus wants us to know what the kingdom of heaven is like, but He knows we can’t take it all in at once.

Listen to what the Lord has to share with us and don’t try to run ahead. Jesus knows our capabilities and our limitations. Listen to the earthly examples we can relate to and as we learn and grow, we will better understand the blessings of Heaven in store for us.

Loving Lord, our understanding is never complete, but You continue to reach out to us in Your love and care. Help us to pay attention to Your word and the plans You have for us to be Your representatives. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:4-8

John the Baptist told us if we truly want to enter the kingdom of God we must change our hearts and lives. Jesus indicates the level of change required in order to follow Him as being born again. This sounds difficult, more than breaking bad habits and old patterns of behavior. This is changing how we live.

Jesus compares the movement of the Spirit to the movement of the wind in an attempt to help Nicodemus (and us) better understand. People whose lives have been changed by Jesus can share their experience and God’s love, but each of us must make the choice for ourselves to follow Him. When we realize the depth of His blessings for us and accept His call, it is like being born again.

Jesus knows this is hard for us, but He doesn’t lessen the requirement or soften the obligation. Living for God and others first is what is asked of us. If we want to live in His light, we must be born again.

Loving Lord, we are weak by ourselves but strong in You. Help us to be new creatures through Your loving Spirit. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:1-3

This passage sets the stage for Jesus to share an important lesson with an unlikely listener. Nicodemus is not only a Pharisee but a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council that would later try Jesus for the accusations people leveled against Him. Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness, apparently to avoid being seen contacting Him.

We are blessed to be able to come to Jesus openly and unafraid. While we sometimes feel the pressure that displaying our faith causes, we are rarely in danger for doing so. How sad is it that we are afraid of what people will think of us or say to others because of our faith practice! There are still places in the world where people face death daily due to their faith in Christ but do not let that deter them from believing.

Displaying our faith in public means more than just praying at restaurants or wearing a visible cross. If we want to be Christ’s disciples we must live as He did, born to a new life and sharing God’s love where we are led. It happened to Nicodemus later – in John 19 we read that he and Joseph of Arimathia claimed Jesus’ body following the crucifixion and performed His burial. Don’t let the whims of society dictate the practice of your faith, live each day for the Lord!

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of our Savior and the way He taught us to live. Help us to follow the lessons we have received, to love You and others and to go make disciples of all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:1-17

This week’s Gospel lesson contains what may be the best known and most quoted scripture verse of all, John 3:16. I’ll bet you repeated it in your head as you read that! It is a testimony about Christ from Christ Himself, about God’s love for the world and the salvation He sent us.

Now, without looking back at the included scripture above, how many know “the rest of the story”? I’m sure many of you do, but we are less likely to know the context of this lesson than the verse so often quoted. I will tell you, if you only know one verse from scripture, this is an important one to know!

However, this is exactly what Jesus is trying to teach Nicodemus in this passage. Knowing that God loves us and sends His salvation is essential, but we must begin from that point to learn about His love and share that joy with everyone. During this season of Lent, let us look into ourselves to discover the gifts God has provided us, and then go into the world to use them in His name.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of being born again to new life in You. Help us to show the world the joy of Your love and the assurance a relationship with You brings. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11

In the desert, Jesus was tested by God and tempted by Satan. There is a huge difference here. Testing and tempting are not the same at all!

God tests us to strengthen us, to teach us to give up even our greatest wants and needs, that we may learn to trust in Him for everything. As the children of Israel wandered in the desert, they learned to rely on God. Conversely, the devil is often known as the tempter, deceiving us into thinking something other than God is the easy way to fulfill our desires.

Temptation leads us away from God; God’s testing makes our relationship stronger as we learn to trust Him to guide and provide. Whenever you feel tempted to take the easy way out, to put your own plan in action, stop and do as Jesus did – rebuke temptation with God’s word and rely on His unfailing grace and mercy for all you need.

Loving Lord, we give thanks for all Your care for us. Teach us Your word and Your way that we may be strong and faithful in our work for Your kingdom. Amen.