“God doesn't bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing.”
― Warren W. Wiersbe
1 KINGS 21-22
41Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.a ”4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spiritb gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youc must be born again.’ 8The 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.”d9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?JOHN 3:1-21
JOURNAL
Nicodemus is confused due to his failure to consider the spiritual. He fails to understand that the spirit like the wind is not something you see and control but rather something you feel and see the effects of. He fails to realize that spirituality is not predictable or controllable. Just as the wind cannot be harnessed neither can the spirit of God.
The Jews had taken the laws of God and used them to shame and imprison their followers. They no longer brought healing and freedom but rather greed and hate. They used them to shame and control through fear. Now here was Jesus offering freedom, forgiveness and hope to people who had none. It was beyond what Nicodemus could understand.
Nicodemus had studied and been trained on the scriptures his whole life and yet he missed it completely. He failed to understand that Jesus was not here to gather the "righteous"...those that "had it all together". Rather he was here to bring hope to all. No matter what their background, race, history...he offered a new hope and one that was available to anyone.
The Jews had taken the laws of God and used them to shame and imprison their followers. They no longer brought healing and freedom but rather greed and hate. They used them to shame and control through fear. Now here was Jesus offering freedom, forgiveness and hope to people who had none. It was beyond what Nicodemus could understand.
Nicodemus had studied and been trained on the scriptures his whole life and yet he missed it completely. He failed to understand that Jesus was not here to gather the "righteous"...those that "had it all together". Rather he was here to bring hope to all. No matter what their background, race, history...he offered a new hope and one that was available to anyone.
John 3:16-17
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