Readings for today: Judges 17-18, John 3:1-21, Psalms 104:1-23, Proverbs 14:20-21
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Our culture is obsessed with identity. Gay, straight, bi. Black, brown, white. Republican, Democrat. Socialist, Libertarian. Male, female, tran. Boomer, Gen X, Millennial. Abled, disabled. Rich, middle class, poor. Religious. Non-religious. Everyone wanting to be part of a tribe. Part of a group. Part of a community who understands their needs. Everyone wants to be affirmed and accepted. Everyone wants to be validated and embraced. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with these desires. Human beings have an existential fear of loneliness that is hardwired into the deepest parts of our souls. We were not made to be alone. In fact, part and parcel of being made in the image of God means being made in the image of our Creator who exists eternally in community in Himself.
Enter Nicodemus. A man who belonged to the tribe of the Pharisees. A leader among the Jews. A man who identified clearly with his people and his faith. But something is missing which is why he finds himself coming to Jesus. He’s nervous. He’s anxious. He’s afraid. He doesn’t want to cross his tribe. He doesn’t want to put his reputation at risk so he comes to Jesus at night. Under the cover of darkness. He wants to get in and out unseen. But Jesus - as he so often does - cuts right to the heart of his problem. It’s one of identity.
“You must be born again.” What a statement! You must ground your identity in Christ alone. You must take on a new name. Belong to a new family. One defined by love and devotion to God. It’s not new. It’s really the only way we can live out the first and second great commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. The only way this happens is if we are first born again. Born to new life. Born to a new identity as a child of God.
But how can we be born again? How can we lay hold of our new identity in Christ? By faith. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18) We cannot make this happen on our own. We cannot climb back into our mother’s womb. And thankfully we don’t have to! All we have to do is believe. Receive the gift of God’s only begotten Son. Trust He came not to condemn but to save.
Readings for tomorrow: Judges 19-20, John 3:22-4:3, Psalms 104:24-35, Proverbs 14:22-24