Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day seven)
We often talk about Jesus’ miraculous birth this time of year. Born of a virgin, celebrated by angels, and marked by the stars, Jesus’ birth was unlike any other. The story is told and celebrated year after year. Remarkably, there is another miraculous birth we often overlook.
John 3:4 notes the overlooked miraculous birth like this: Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
Your rebirth is a miraculous gift of God. Sometimes we downplay the life we have in Christ, but to be born of the Spirit is to be born of heaven. Just as many still have trouble believing Christ was born in a manger, so too Nicodemus could not believe that you have been reborn. It just isn’t possible.
Very encouraging to be reminded that to be born of the Spirit is to be born of heaven. Trusting and believing in God help us see possibilities from impossibilities and help us choose God’s path with confidence and hope for permanent joy, and peace.
Trusting and believing go hand-in-hand. We must trust in something or trust in someone first before we can believe in whatever the person we trust will do or say and believe in the outcomes. Without trust, all communications will shut down. Without trust, there will be no relationships, whether professional, interpersonal or spiritual. In a personal and organizational context, I trust and believe in those I engage with on a day-to-day basis until they prove that they cannot be trusted. Trust cannot be expected or demanded but needs to be earned. Building trust takes time and patience. Jesus built trust consistently during His Ministry, with His disciples and followers.
Trust is a critical ingredient in leadership. Jesus has proved that He can be trusted and He is God. He is the way and the light. God can be trusted as He is the same God and has not changed. Jesus bought our sins and died for us on the cross so we can live and have salvation; and this action alone is sufficient for me to trust and believe in Him.
Merry Christmas!
Preach on preacher, preach on!