Born Again. Earthly things?

John 3:1-12 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”


9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

Light the Fire again.

I have many times re-lit the fire on my backyard deck. I pride myself in using just one match. I look to arrange the coals from my previous fire and bring them together in close proximity to one another. That is where I strike the match that burns brightly. Though it is small, I bring it close to the coals from my previous fire. The match sparks the coals around it yet if left alone the light of the flame quickly dies out so I blow on them. I take deep breaths in hopes that the longer I blow the more intense the embers glow and the more likely new fuel will ignite. Once the embers are glowing bright I sit back and watch the progression. I see how oxygen is now flowing into the embers and the heat rises pulling in more oxygen. The coals glow and heat is created, and it rises.

The glowing embers spread out slowly. I think I can anticipate where they will spread. Then all of a sudden I see a flame break out in a surprising place. The flame's light spreads out from it and illuminates the deck area. The flame comes from fuel that has never been exposed to the fire or the heat. It was the embers closest to the fresh wood that ignited them because of their close proximity. I had purposefully positioned the wood to come in contact with the glowing embers that they might be ignited by the heat that the embers possessed and become a roaring campfire that would attract all to come and see.

Making Sense?

We all try to figure things out. We look around and our experience gives us a clue. Yet there is so much more. In our pride we take our perspective and try to use it as an answer to explain the reality of the circumstance. And then the circumstance changes. We are fools who trust in our own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Potential

1. The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.

2. Something possessing the capacity for growth or development.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR IDENTITY it is important to understand that God sees us from a perspective of our potential. It is this potential that is the foundation of His commitment and long-suffering toward us. With insight and understanding of our God-given potential He rebukes, chastises, and disciplines us with exhortations of humility, honesty, and demonstrations of unconditional love. He calls us to be over-comers, blameless, willing to admit our mistakes, dependent on His guidance. Willing to serve His purposes. 

In this light, we should consider our choices and decisions!

To be "present" in the Now.

Have you ever been distracted? Has your attention ever been occupied? Have you ever lost track of what you were paying attention too?

Being "Present" in the "Now" is the last thing the enemy of your Soul wants you to be aware of, understanding the reality of your existence, being aware and cognizant of your surroundings, both physical and Spiritual.

It is there you "attend" to the need. It's the last thing the enemy of your soul wants you to realize. There is no better time than "Now". There are no other considerations as important, no other distractions that beg procrastination. Time and effort proclaim "do it now" there is no better opportunity for the doing,  and the promise "Be at Peace" is fulfilled when done. There is no greater Joy than to obey "Now".

"for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." ROMANS 14:17

We are not defined by the stuff we have accumulated

Look around yourself. Okay, look around your "home". Look at the stuff. It's all familiar. It all has a history. Are you surprised from how "long ago" the stuff has sat there? I was.

Stuff, I thought it would define my families future. But it is left by the wayside cluttering up our now. I'm reminded of the idea that "Your possessions, possess you." I need to stop that.

Set in your ways?

Don't be.