Good morning, Zane.
Nice morning out there so far. I particularly enjoyed being outside early while it was still dark to behold the awesome sky that featured an almost full moon. How can any human heart get all puffed up with arrogance and self importance while beholding such an expansive and majestic reality???
I did my short old man jog (both the old man and the jog were short) with the dogs—letting them jump in the creek for a little swim at the midway point—both going then coming. I also beforehand filled my pockets with apples and fed them to a couple horses along the way. They are learning to respond immediately to my whistle call.
Now—how to take on this day is still being decided. Hope yours goes well—and that you will give your best attention to the devotional message below
Love and prayers. Tua (Ray)
Three incredibly wonderful points are presented here. (1) RECEIVE. (2) BELIEVE. (3) REBIRTH. Please do not allow familiarity with these themes to dim their awesome significance.
RECEIVE. Let’s remember the JEWISH context for this narrative. So, to RECEIVE means to welcome the appearing of the Promised Jewish Messiah (Christ, Savior) by Whom the entire human race also could be blessed—and would be blessed if they, individually, would but welcome and RECEIVE His appearing and what He achieves in their behalf.
I was reminded of this ongoing promise as reflected in Paul’s great personal statement of hope and faith contained in yesterday’s reading. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
How many individuals were living with A HEART AFTER GOD when Christ appeared the first time? The sad answer is, not many. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not RECEIVE him” (John 1:11). How many individuals will be living with A HEART AFTER GOD when Christ appears the second time? The sad answer again is, not many. But, for those individuals who choose a HEART AFTER GOD and welcome and long for His coming again, the benefits are way beyond our wildest imaginations.
BELIEVE. Believe what? “…believe in his name.” Believe what about His Name? “And His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Do you get it? JESUS IS GOD! There is no other conclusion to draw from this passage—or from the whole of Biblical revelation, for that matter. Therefore, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). This is no insignificant minor technicality of religious ideology. This is of paramount importance in the salvation equation. “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:18).
REBIRTH. We all understand something about “the birds and the bees” and how human life is propagated. This second birth is different. It is the supernatural result of an intimate union between a human heart and “The One and Only” by RECEIVING and BELIEVING. “…children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13).
Let’s end here by jumping ahead and quoting John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Please join me in exclamation—WOW!