Earlier this week, my daughter passed out. She was just fine one moment, and the next, she was unconscious. I was hysterical. I picked up the phone and called 911 when she came to, having hit her head. Her mouth was filled with blood, and her first words were, “I can’t breathe!”
In those moments, I learned that it’s so easy to think about things from a natural perspective. Yet, we can even change the outcome when we see things that happen in our lives from a spiritual perspective.
Today, we’re exploring “Spiritual Birth,” one of the most essential topics in this journey. It’s a highly debated topic, but that doesn’t diminish its divine importance in the life of every human being made in God’s image. This question comes from the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus by night. Nicodemus was a Ruler of the Jews. He was a Pharisee. Yet, he recognized that with all his humanly acquired knowledge, something deeper, more profound, was necessary. He’d utilized all his talent, skill, and ability to climb the ladder only to get to the top of that ladder and realize it was the “wrong ladder.” He comes as a seeker of truth, wanting to enter the kingdom of God, “The Good Life”.
How is it so? That’s the question that has plagued many for centuries. How can I be “born again?” Do I reenter my mother’s womb after I’m old? All these things proved that Nickie did not have a spiritual understanding, which is absolutely necessary when talking to Jesus, and Nick was a teacher of the law. Jesus was not trying to hide the truth from him; it just takes a certain mentality to understand spiritually appraised things, namely, a heart that believes. When he talked about natural birth and spiritual birth, he wasn’t trying to trick Nickie up. Jesus was pointing to the fact that to receive what he was saying, one needs first to believe not only that Jesus is a “Master Teacher”, but also that he is the “Son of God.” Nickie still had some work to do in the faith realm.
Have you ever assumed you understood something, until Jesus questioned that understanding, and it was revealed to be “human” understanding? It’s all cleared up from there. The power of regeneration is quite simple, but one thing it’s not is just an “upgrade” to human behavior. It’s a total mindset shift, a change in the belief system, if you will. One who comes to God must believe not only that He is, but also that He is a rewarder of the one who diligently seeks Him. It is God who gives us a “New Spirit” as we live with the “Mind of Christ”, as a “New Creation.” In this regard, natural knowledge can be a barrier.
Here’s our invitation to the kingdom of God for the day to ponder. The questions Jesus asked Nicodemus were not an insult but an invite to start all over, to take new wine. It’s not about endless study and gaining of knowledge, but having an open heart and a willingness to change and become more spiritually discerned through surrender, trust, and openness to divine revelation. Whenever the Spirit comes, He guides us as a helper, coming alongside us to show us things we would not have seen if we hadn’t allowed Him to lead. My daughter was taken to the ER, where many tests were run on her. By the time we were heading home, we knew she had to follow up with a cardiologist. Still, everything would ultimately be predicated on total reliance on a spirit realm actively working in our lives that takes theability to trust God, believing He’s working all things for good.
In what areas of your faith is Jesus challenging you to go deeper?
Are you allowing God to redefine your understanding of His truths which can only be spiritually discerned?
Where are you trying to figure things out instead of receiving the knowledge from the Spirit?
“The GOoDLifePrecepts”
KeviJ
