Day: February 9, 2007

Whose Food Are You Eating? – Day 10

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Day 10 – Whose Food Are You Eating?Reading: John 3:1-21

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)

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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” (John 3:10)

Jesus doesn’t let Nicodemus off the hook here. He holds him to task. In fact, Jesus questions Nicodemus and asks him why he doesn’t know these things being that he is a “master of Israel”! Religious leaders have so much more responsibility in God’s eyes. They are supposed to lead the spiritually blinded to the truth. This isn’t just with the Jewish religion but it is true with every religion on the face of this earth. Each has a leader of some kind, whether it is a Rabbi, a priest, a minister, etc.

Why do we need someone else to read, interpret and digest the Bible for us when God tells us that we are responsible for doing this ourselves? Do you allow someone to eat, chew and swallow your food for you? Of course not! Then why do you allow someone else to read the Bible, understand it and glean from it for you?

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Each one of us must eat for ourselves to keep our bodies alive. The same goes for our spiritual bodies. We must feed our own spiritual bodies with spiritual bread. No one else will stand before God and give an account for your life but you!

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Dear God…
Oh Jesus, Thou art the bread of life.
I seek the Truth, I’m sincere.
Guide me where I can find this bread
And draw You ever so near!

How Can This Be? – Day 9

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Day 9 – How Can This Be?

Reading: John 3:1-21There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)

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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?” (John 3:9)

Even after hearing what Jesus had to say, Nicodemus still returned to the logic of the mind. He was so religious and knew so much, yet he could not grasp even this simplest of truths.

Have you ever said “How can this be?” All of us have said this at one time or another. I always wondered how rockets could possibly launch a ship so it could reach the moon and back. But just because I don’t understand rockets does not make me believe they don’t exist.

You must commend Nicodemus for his tenacity. At least he kept asking. Some people just give up if they don’t understand something the first time around. Nicodemus kept right on asking questions as if to say, “Help me to understand!”

Won’t you ask God to help your unbelief today? Don’t let what you have been taught all these years to blind you. Don’t let the religion of your fathers stand in the way of seeking the truth.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

Dear God…
It’s not easy to change my ways.
I’m filled with much doubt and fear.
Cause my uncertainty and unbelief
To depart after so many years!

The Spirit’s Movement – Day 8

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Day 8 – The Spirit’s Movement

Reading: John 3:1-21There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)

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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“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.” (John 3:8)

What a wonderful example given by Jesus to explain what the Spirit is like. You can’t see the wind but you surely can hear it. You can see its movement in the trees but you cannot see it. The Spirit is the same. You cannot see the Spirit but you see the Spirit’s movement in the believer. He changes the damned soul into a life-everlasting soul. The Spirit lives within every born-again believer. The unsaved do not understand because they do not possess the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of truth.

If you were to buy a used car, you would want to know the truth about this car’s history … has it been involved in an accident? Does it have any hidden mechanical issues, etc. Don’t you want to know the truth about eternal life as well? Why would we want to know the truth about everything else in life but not about where we will spend eternity?

Don’t you want to have the Spirit of truth living within you? Don’t you want to have answers to questions you’ve been too afraid to ask? Don’t you want your soul to have life everlasting?

“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17)

Dear God…
Oh God, help me to understand
The truths within Your Word.
May Your Holy Spirit open my heart
And lead me continuously forward!

The Father is Never Wrong – Day 7

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Day 7 – The Father Is Never Wrong

Reading: John 3:1-21

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)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.
(Joh 3:2)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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7)

Jesus told Nicodemus “Don’t wonder that I’m saying, you have to be born again.” In other words, don’t try to put logic into it when it takes faith. Jesus was giving him the key here. Don’t try to put reason and logic into the plan of salvation. Why would Jesus say to receive the simple plan of salvation like a child?

“Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein”. (Luke 18:17)

Have you ever noticed how a child looks to his father and mother for answers? A father could give any answer at all and the child would believe him. The child trusts his father explicitly and believes with all his heart that his father will bring him no harm.

Do you believe like a child? Or do you allow deeply embedded doctrine from your past to cloud the simplicity of the Gospel? Ask God to remove any obstacles and to give you that child-like faith that is needed to be saved.

Dear God…
Oh Lord, I struggle to believe
What the Bible says I must do.
Help me to accept its words as
Final authority and truth!

Born of the Spirit – Day 6

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Day 6 – Born of the Spirit

Reading: John 3:1-21There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)

What a simple sentence spoken by Jesus here. Yet, here Jesus was speaking it to a religious leader. It shows that even those who appear to have all the truth and answers must be given a simple message. The message was so simple that even a child could understand it. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:17)

Jesus knew that it would take child-like faith for Nicodemus to be saved. Nicodemus would have to let go of all the religious knowledge he had crammed in his brain. He would have to let go of everything he had been taught and rely on this simple message to speak to his heart. All the laws and rules Nicodemus had learned would have to be set aside and he would have to rely on the Word of God to speak to his heart.

It is not rocket science … flesh begets flesh … dogs have puppies, cats have kittens, and humans have babies. But, if we accept the simple plan of salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit and are now born of the Spirit. It really is not difficult at all when God reveals the truth to your heart.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Dear God…
I pray that I will never be
So heavenly minded yet blind.
Open my eyes with Your Truth.
Remove those chains that bind!

Jesus is the Only Way – Day 5

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Day 5 – Jesus is the Only Way

Reading: John 3:1-21There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)

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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“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.” (John 3:5)

Again, Jesus doubles up on the word “verily”! It’s as if He is saying, “Nicodemus, I double emphatically say”! This was the custom of the day when someone wanted to drive a point home.
Jesus again says Nicodemus had to be born again. This time, Jesus uses a different term. He says that Nicodemus had to be born of water and of the Spirit. When one is born again, one receives the Holy Spirit of God. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13). Also, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

This was such a simple directive from Jesus to this religious leader. It was not a complicated matter at all. Have you been convinced that the way to Heaven is a complicated one? It’s not complicated at all. There is only one way … Jesus is the way.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Dear God…
Oh how I searched to find the truth.
My quest was indeed sincere.
I asked the religiously learned ones,
But the Bible I failed to read!I failed to turn to the one place
Where all truth is clearly penned.
Where sin is not made beautiful
Nor its pleasures does it defend!

This Bible led me to Your bleeding side
At the cross where my burden was laid.
You paid the price required for sin.
Your shed blood now the debt has paid!

Logic Versus Scriptures – Day 4

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Day 4 – Logic Versus Scriptures

Reading: John 3:1-21There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)

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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“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?” (John 3:4)

Poor Nicodemus! Despite all the Scripture he has committed to memory, he turns to logic to make sense of the statement Jesus made. This proves that even the religious leaders of today can misinterpret what God means in His Word. Here is the ultimate religious leader for the Jews and yet he resorted to what “made sense to him.”

Are you trying to make sense of everything you have been taught through the years as the “way to Heaven”? Listen to what Jesus says in the Word and not what someone else says. The Bible is never wrong. Jesus confirmed this when He was praying for His disciples to His Father in Heaven, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) Ask God to reveal the truth to you in His Word. He promises to do so.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Dear God…
Where do we turn to learn about
The One Who died for us?
The Bible is our only source
And reading it is a must.

You Must Be Born Again – Day 3

On By KateIn VariousLeave a comment

Day 3 – You Must be Born Again

Reading: John 3:1-21There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:1)

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.
(Joh 3:2)

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.
(Joh 3:3)

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?
(Joh 3:4)

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.
(Joh 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:7)

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.
(Joh 3:8)

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:9)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:10)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:11)

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:12)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:14)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:15)

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.
(Joh 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:17)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:18)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(Joh 3:21)

Today’s verse:

“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.” (John 3:3)

Jesus answered Nicodemus directly. He did not mince His words or try to make them ultra religious. Nor did Jesus sugar-coat the words with what He thought Nicodemus “wanted” to hear. Jesus came right out and said “Verily, verily.” Here is double emphasis at the very beginning of Jesus’ statement. It’s as if Jesus were saying, “Nicodemus, surely, surely!” Jesus wanted Nicodemus to pay attention and to understand how important the following words were going to be. He did not want Nicodemus’ thoughts to be clouded with his religious background. He wanted Nicodemus in the “here and now.”

Nicodemus had no idea what Jesus was saying in this verse. This was something new to his ears. No matter how much Scripture he had put to memory, this was still something new. Jesus made it clear that Nicodemus could not see God’s kingdom unless he was born again. Jesus was concise. Jesus was plain in just 19 simple words.

Dear friend, do not let your religious upbringing obscure your thoughts today. Ask God to reveal His truth to you. God does not want you to be ignorant but to have wisdom through the Word.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; …” (Romans 11:25a)

Dear God…
One day I will meet You face-to-face
Not a deed will I be able to hide
Remove from me the obstacles
Which lead to Your bleeding Side.

Morning Manna – Day 3 – Loneliness

On By KateIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. (Isa 58:9a)

Despite the hustle and bustle of the world around us, miles of traffic jams, and crowded malls, it is amazing how many people in this world suffer from loneliness. Man was not created to be alone. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Gen 2:18) No matter how much of a loner one is, that person has a need for human contact at some point or another. Most are not loners, however, so human contact is a vital ingredient for healthy emotions. Loneliness left unchecked leads to despair.

As a born-again believer, I am encouraged by God’s Holy Word because He deals with this very subject over and over. God knew from the beginning that man could not be alone and that he would suffer from loneliness. So much so, He included the beautiful Book of Psalms for encouragement and countless other verses throughout His Word. Our Father knows our needs because He created us. He knows everything about us. We cannot hide anything from Him, including our loneliness. [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (Psa 139:1) I stand amazed that our God knows all of us in this intimate way. God has searched each one of us and knows us!

Even when we are at our lowest, the Lord is right there to lift us up through His Word. I think of David when he made this statement in Psa 27:10, When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. David knew that his God would never forsake him. The Lord reassures His children over and over throughout His Word that He is faithful. … for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heb 13:5b) Again, He assures us in Is. 42:16, …These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

When we need comfort and reassurance, He promises to be there for us. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18 Our Heavenly Father is there every moment of the way in our Christian walk. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (Gen 28:15)

We may fall asleep at night and forget the day’s trials and burdens but our God never sleeps and is ever watching out for us. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psa 121:4) Does that not bring you comfort? You are not alone, my friend. No matter how empty your house is, you are not alone. No matter if there is no one sitting with you in your car, you are not alone. Your Heavenly Father has placed in you His Precious Holy Spirit. He comforts you, teaches you and points you to Christ through His Holy Word. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (Joh 14:16) (Emphasis mine).

How can you overcome your loneliness? Get in the Word, oh Christian. The Holy Spirit is waiting to bring that precious comfort to you. His comfort resides within the pages of your Bible but you must open it to receive it. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (Joh 14:26) We get refreshment and encouragement within the pages of our Bible as we are drawn and taught by the Holy Spirit. How full of mercy is our Father! He knows every fiber of our being and provides living water for us to walk away refreshed. Our loneliness dissipates as we soak up His Word and see once again the light of day.

Once we are refreshed, we are commanded to go out and be a friend to someone. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: (Pro 18:24a) No one can feel alone when they are focused on helping others. There are people out there in need, whether physical, emotional or spiritual. God can use a believer who has overcome loneliness to minister to a lonely world. So many are lonely out there – won’t you let the Friend of all friends be your example? and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Pro 18:24b Do you feel friendless? When you are born again, oh Christian, God calls you His friend.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Joh 15:13) Jesus paid the ultimate price to be your friend. You are never alone.

Treat your loneliness today with a good dose of refreshing time in the Word then put feet to your refreshing time and spend time with someone who is lonely. God will use your trials to minister to another and bring glory to His Name.

Dear God…
At times I am so lonely
Leading me to feel despair
But then my Morning Manna
Shows me just how much You care.

I love You, Lord!!