~ Reborn ~

[Lani]

John 3:1-17
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.



God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (NIV)




At the age of 30 I was lost, drowning in a sea of alcohol. Finally I admitted that I was powerless over my drinking. I asked God to release me from bondage to alcohol. God answered my prayer.

I have become a sober, productive member of society. God has blessed me with a caring family. By relying on the grace of God and the help and inspiration of many sober friends, I have been blessed with the opportunity to marry, raise children and watch my grandchildren grow. I was able to be with my mother and hold her as she died a few years ago. None of this would have been possible in my old way of life.

Mom and Dad took my brothers and me to church regularly when we were children and teenagers, and at church I heard that God is loving and powerful and that God wants a personal relationship with me. I heard that if I approached God with childlike faith and asked for help, I could be reborn. After many years, I finally came to believe all that I heard is true. I have been reborn.

This offer of close relationship with God is open to everyone.



Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the gift or rebirth. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: People addicted to alcohol.

Thought for the Day: God wants a personal relationship with each one of us.

Story shared by: R. Scott (AZ)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 1/3/12