Living in the Spirit

May 29, 2021

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? –John 3:1-9

Faith in Jesus Christ seems to boil down to a choice. I have wondered why God created us with free will. God highly values having a mutual relationship with humans, and God desires that relationship to be reciprocal. We call that relationship with God love; love does not exist on a one-way street.

The English language dumps a whole lot of meaning on the word love. We use it as a stronger word than like to describing the very essence of God. The Greek Language used in the New Testament has six different words for love. We are most familiar with agape—God’s love, éros—love between a couple, and philía—Sibling love. I work from the definition of human love as wanting the absolute best for another. Our love of God is a deep desire to live within the standards of God’s love shared with us.

Thus, we are born as humans made in the image of God. At some point, we must decide to love like God or not. That choice opens the window of our souls to the indwelling of the Spirit of God and sets us on the path to wholeness and oneness with God and living justly with all God’s other children.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Spirit to lead and guide us on your incredible journey of love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.