As A Child

‎Wednesday, ‎May ‎12, ‎2021

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.—1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Memory of the month:  Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Today's reading: 2 KINGS 15-16 JOHN 3:1-18

Trust Of A Child

It should not be hard to understand and it is not, really. The mind of educated man picks everything apart piece by piece and has to have everything in its place. Man's mind has to have a rational reason so everything can be explained.

In John, chapter 3 verses 1-18, Nicodemus comes to Jesus after dark, in secret, to ask Jesus the answer to eternal life.

Jesus says: 3 I tell you the truth: only someone who experiences birth for a second time can hope to see the kingdom of God.

This flies in the face of all reason to the mind of an educated man who has been steeped in the traditions of his heritage and sect.

Nicodemus asks: "I am a grown man. How can someone be born again when he is old like me?"

The spiritual world makes no sense to the 'carnal' mind. This type of person must get to the point where they realize the need for something higher than educated reason. The enemy does not 'cloud' reason as I have heard; the enemy makes reason paramount.

Jesus voids the need for educated reason. Paul said this:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27

God cannot be explained by rational thought. It has been tried for all time. The sacrifice of Jesus is so contrary to the mind of natural man. God's divine personal presence is not a ghost as modern man has tried to imagine and portray it. God is not haunting and scary, but this is the way the enemy tries to make Him sound.

God is the presence of the purest of love-the ultimate of all. He is above all things and at the same time inhabits the believer. None of this is going to make sense to the world outside of God's kingdom.

It is, however, ultimate knowledge-divine, and God given.

So how do we get this message to a world that has to have reason?

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

We must continually be aware of Christ's Lordship. What does that mean? It means that we are humbling ourselves under His hand, 1Peter 5:6&7, continually. Aware constantly that we have submitted to Him who is without worldly reason. This is walking in faith not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ►For we live by faith, not by sight.

Deal with the world with gentleness and respect. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit of God, so, we must embrace His gentleness and not depend on ourselves to generate it-gentleness is not something like electrical current-it cannot be generated. It emanates from the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives so we must stay ever-conscious of Him and His fruit that is present.

Respect for all human beings is impossible outside God's grace. We must see the part of the person that is made in the image of God and give respect where respect is due. We must look past the sin to the part Jesus died for.

To be ready to give reason for the hope that is in us is to be 'prayed up' and ready to explain in spiritual terms. Prayer and study prepares us mentally but we must be humbled before God to give answers to rational man.

Luke 12:12 The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.

The Holy Spirit will give us words. We must let go of the control and put it in His control. Relax and let God be God in our lives and we do not have to be concerned about the words or the outcome.

If you are gentle and respectful, the searching heart will seek you out. Nicodemus came to see Jesus after dark so his people could not see him. We do not know if Nicodemus was saved, but we do know he came to help with the burial of Jesus after the disciples of Jesus had scattered, John 19:38-40, at risk of being judged by his peers for his actions. Jesus had made a connection with Nicodemus that cannot be ignored.

Our job is to be like Jesus-to generate questions in the minds of lost folks. We must be ready to give answers-this means to be surrendered to the Spirit of God in selflessness.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I worry too much about what to say. I do not embrace Your gentleness. Teach me to relax under Your guidance and be still.

Gentle and patient God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen