You Must be Born Again
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me understand what it means to be “Born Again”. Amen
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:1-7 NIV
REFLECT:
When I was on staff of a church, we had several unusual baptism requests, like the couple who wanted to be baptized at the exact same time. The most unusual request for a baptism was from a older lady who was in the hospital and completely bedfast. She wanted to be immersed so that it would represent her being born again.
The hospital agreed to let us use the therapy pool so she could be put on a stretcher and lowered in the water. Her adult son was totally against her doing it because he thought it was ridiculous to put his mother through the stress of immersing her in the water. The woman was adamant that it was important to her to be baptized by immersion. She felt the symbolism of the death, burial, and resurrection was necessary for her to feel united with Christ for the forgiveness of her sins and to demonstrate her faith in Jesus.
She told her son that the decision for her being baptized by immersion was too important for her to allow him to stop her. We baptized her by having the Physical Therapists lower her into the water and raise her back out and thus she was baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
APPLY:
What can you “do” to please a relational God? Believe! “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). There is no effort you can expend nor sacrifice you can make to get more of God’s attention or affection. But you can move in His direction with a devoted heart, disregarding obstacles, believing in His goodness, and cultivating your relationship with Him.* One of the best ways to demonstrate your faith in this relational God is to follow Jesus in baptism.
*(Presidential Prayer Team devotional)
CLOSING PRAYER:
Praise the Lord, oh my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:1). Amen
WORSHIP: