The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 14:20-21 (ESV)
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 104:1-4 (ESV)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
The Word of God for encouragement:
John 3:1-7 (ESV)
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
My observation:
The gospel of John is an excellent place for the new believer to start with. The writer of this gospel tells us the purpose of the book.
John 20:30-31 (ESV)
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
In our focal passage for today from John, Jesus tells Nicodemus some very important truths that every person needs to know and believe. Their eternal destiny is at stake, and ignorance about these matters is serious.
If there is one thing that we need to be right about it is the need for the new birth. That is why reading the gospel of John should be of first priority. Jesus tells Nicodemus of the importance and the imperative of the new birth.
Jesus told Nicodemus two significant truths regarding the kingdom of God. He said, One, without the new birth, "You cannot see the kingdom of God, and second, without the new birth, "You cannot enter the kingdom of God". This verse seals the deal.
John 3:7 (ESV)
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, how I thank you and praise you for sending Jesus Christ into the world so that every person might have the opportunity to be born again. Father, I am so grateful that I have been born twice, and as a result I will only die once. Lord, I thank you that because of Jesus, I will never die spiritually. Yes, Lord, I believe in Jesus. Amen.
John 11:26 (ESV)
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
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1 Timothy 4:4-5 (HCSB)
4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
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