Coffee With The Lord

You’ve got to get the picture… (I read the account this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” – John 3:1-16…)

A mature, distinguished looking, influential religious leader approaches Jesus at night… He starts his conversation with the Lord with a complement… “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him! (But he never gets to the question he intended to ask – Jesus breaks in with Divine spiritual insight)…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!”

Now we cannot be sure about what Nicodemus, the mature, distinguished religious leader wanted to ask Jesus… It may have been a sincere question about some spiritual matter. Or it might have been a deep theological question. Perhaps it was sincere – or it might have been confrontational…

But think about it… Jesus’ answer? “Start over – start at the very beginning again? Be “born again?” Nicodemus blurted it out… “How can a person be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?!”

Yup, that’s it ‘Nick’! … That’s it for us all – YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! “That which is born of the flesh [a natural physical birth] is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit [a Spiritual rebirth] is spirit! Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!’”

Hey, we get so much from our ancestors and parents through physical birth (and the nurture that follows it)! … I’m no physician or physiologist, but the genetic impact and legacy are BIG – it shows up physically, intellectually, emotionally – even socially! DNA is a big deal with an incredible impact!

Jesus argued a “Spiritual re-birth” – a birth of the Holy Spirit – was essential for Nicodemus…for us ALL! Jesus said that birth leads to the “Kingdom of God!” That birth leads to “eternal life!” (Vs. 15-16). That birth leads to TRANSFORMATION (in keeping with “Spiritual DNA” that characterizes it)! It has an impact on your values, your outlook, your expectations, your appearance, your choices, your values, your behavior, your speech, your thinking, your emotions, your present and your future… and I could go on! It makes a “new person” out of you! Hey, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

AND IT’S A PROCESS… “New Birth” kicks in that “Spiritual DNA” … and moment by moment, day by day, year by year, you are being changed – transformed into “Christlikeness!” Until one day we enter His presence – “Heaven!” Hey, consider these follow-up verses…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3-4)

“And we all…are being transformed into the same image [the likeness of Christ] from one degree of glory to another!” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are! … Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is! And everyone who has the hope in Him purifies himself as He is pure!” (1 John 3:1-3)

Hey, take from me – no, take it from Jesus… “YOU REALLY MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

A really important “Coffee With the Lord” repost from several years ago [but my Bible reading today once again]!!!

PROVERBS 3:1-12, FOR ME, EXPRESSES SEVERAL KEY LIFE-PRINCIPLES that have guided my life over the years. I read them again this morning with relish. I would have to say these are core concepts that I have personally embraced – they have made all the difference in the quality of my daily life. Each comes with a wonderful promise or assurance. I highly recommend them! Here is a fresh personal statement of those principles…

1. Don’t forget the reliable life-lessons you’ve been taught by the key influencers in your life! What they have invested in you will adorn and distinguish your life. (Vss.1-2)

2. Embrace and live out your covenant relationships! God will honor you… and so with others. (Vss.3-4)

3. Trust in the Lord completely – don’t try to run your own life! The Lord will smooth out your path and work out all the details. (Vss. 5-6)

4. Reverence the Lord and live out that reverence humbly! It is the healthy way to live and you discover fresh vitality in your life. (Vss. 7-8)

5. Honor the Lord with your income and all you possess! He promises to prosper you! (Vss. 9-10)

6. Accept your Heavenly Father’s discipline! It is a sign that he cares about you – that he deeply loves you and you’re his child. (Vss. 11-12 cp. Hebrews 12:5-11)

Take it from me… this passage is worth committing to memory!

I jokingly used to tell my students, “YOU’RE LISTENING TO AN OLD DOG!”  (I’m now 77 years old.)  But I remember vividly many of the “life lessons” taught to me by my father and mother as a child and a young man.  Listen, I’m so glad for the decision I made early in life to listen to them and heed what they had to say (rather than resist them)!  Looking back, I’m so grateful for what they taught me, and their godly example! 

I have other friends – I’ve observed other lives – who rebelled, or resisted what their elders tried to teach them – and were determined to go their own way.  They’re older now and many of them live with deep regrets and in their own words “wasted years.” 

Thought of that this morning as I read these wise words from Proverbs 1… 

“The fear (or reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge!  Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Hear, my son (or daughter), your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching!  They are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck…  If sinners entice you, do not consent!  If they say, ‘Come with us, let us… let us… let us… we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— do not walk in the way with them!  Hold back your foot from their paths!  For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.  For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these individuals lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.”  (From Proverbs 1:7–18 ESV)  

Yes, looking back, I’m glad I listened – glad I heeded the wise words of my parents and other wise leaders and godly influences God sent my way!  No regrets on that score!  Like I said, I’m 77 now and “an old dog”… but I want to keep listening… and heeding godly wisdom!