Good day everyone. Happy Aldersgate Day!
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Later in the Gospel of John 4:24 we will find a powerful reference to Who God truly is and what we are to do. Read that passage and reread the one for Sunday. Why is all this “spiritual” talk so important for John to get across then and now?
Here is John 4:24: "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." Here is Sunday's passage again: "3:1 Now there was a Phar'isee named Nicode'mus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus {Gk [him]} by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." {Or [born anew]} 4 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above.' {Or [anew]} 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you {The Greek word for [you] here and in verse 12 is plural} do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things."
As was shared Sunday, for us to fully understand and receive the precious messages of God we must have a spiritual rebirth. It is going from simply appreciating a nice expensive "reflective pool" in our backyards to taking a dip in a cool "swimming pool." I used an illustration of a "grandpa" who lived in the country in a simple handmade shack for many years and then receiving from a loved one a modern home complete with swimming pool. One cannot appreciate and enjoy a pool unless one jumps in. The same is true with spiritual things. The writer of John is very concerned that readers know this truth.
God is spirit and deserves our spiritual worship. Again, we can go to church day after day, Sunday after Sunday, and it won't mean a thing to us if we're not worshiping God in spirit. We can so easily get distracted. We can daydream and we can harbor thoughts we shouldn't; the worship service is meant for something else, namely our worship of God.
Like John Wesley, we can do great religious things, but until we let God come "home" to our hearts, it matters little. It was on this day almost 300 years ago that Wesley finally let the truth of Jesus spiritually visit him. When will it be yours?
PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for giving us yet another opportunity to appreciate your love and your wonder. Speak to us, call us out of spiritual slumber into the reality of true worship. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
