God of grace, pour out Your blessing on the needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text is from John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus 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." 4 Nicodemus 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. AND 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Grace is God's gracious love and mercy towards us when we deserve it the least. Yet, grace would not be grace if we did not respond to it. We spoke of God seeking us in what Wesley called prevenient grace and that is the courtship period in our relationship with God. God seeks us out and as we are sought out, God is leading us to a point where we must decide if we are in relationship with God. Do we trust enough to say yes to God? Can we put aside our doubts, reservations, fears, questions aside and say, "Yes, God, I do believe and I do trust You. I do know that I matter to You and that I put myself and all of my loved ones in Your loving hands." It is at that moment that we enter into that relationship known as justifying grace, the point of our having been born anew or "from above" (v. 3) or other versions say, "born again." It is at that moment that all that has held us back is entrusted to God and we journey forth in a new relationship with Him.
Do you trust God enough to turn over your whole life and being to God? Can You trust that all that we have heard and read is true for you and so from before you were born and even beyond when you die, can you believe that you are God's?
PRAYER: Thank You, loving God, for all You offer me. As You offered Nicodemus, I know You offer me this invitation to be born "from above." I pray that I might be born in spirit to spiritual things and that I might trust You and walk with You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
