John 1:12-13 --- But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].
Today our adventure took us into verses twelve and thirteen. I used the Amplified version above as it gives more of the Greek meaning behind the wording.
The verses today immediately drove me to the conversation Jesus has with Nicodemus in John chapter 3. We'll get there at some point and walk through it in detail, but this is where Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night to talk. Nicodemus was a high up Pharisee, so you talk about KNOWING the word of God or the scriptures. This guy could've recited them in his sleep. Yet he comes to Jesus to talk and the first things he gets is:
John 3:3 --- Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Unlike Nicodemus we have the entirety of the Bible, Old and New Testament, to give us more depth, detail, and direction. So, talk about being confronted by a wild idea here; Nicodemus really had to make a choice in faith, whether he'd believe Jesus and believe in Jesus.
I wonder how many of us (professing Christians) are truly confronted by what the Bible says here about being born again or being born of God and not just of flesh and blood?
Is it a checklist you're doing daily/weekly or a whole new life you're living, born not of blood, not of human passion, or human planning, but born again of God?
Just some things to think about today. I pray you be the Berean and jump into the Bible yourself. Read these verses and listen for Him in them!
Have a good week and if you need prayer for anything please reach out. You are not alone!
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