Cedar Ridge Community Church: Lenten Devotions: 03/23/09

John 3: 1-21 (New International Version)

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The 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."

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Monday, March 23, 2009

24th Day of Lent

This week’s reading is from John’s gospel. John frequently uses the metaphor of light and darkness throughout his writing and refers to Jesus as the Light.

Read these verses from the beginning of the first chapter of John:
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it…
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world…
... to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1: 5- 12 (New Living Translation)

Jesus had come as light into the world so that we can be children of God, people who are not lost but belong to God.

At 7:44AM (EST) last Friday, March 20th our planet’s axis lay parallel to the sun, tilted neither towards nor away from it. This was the spring equinox. Ever since that moment the northern hemisphere of the Earth has been slowly beginning to tilt towards the sun. This will bring light and warmth to our region for the next six months and we will see an astonishing transformation in the world around us as seeds sprout, trees blossom and flowers spring into bloom.

Today (and for the rest of this week) make a conscious effort to tilt your life to the light of God. Spend a few moments each morning before you walk out of your home, intentionally welcoming the light and love of God into you whole being. Spread your arms wide like the limbs of a tree or the petals of a flower and soak up the Light. You could even stand outside in the sunshine to do this. Imagine God’s great love for you, accept the love of the Father for his children, allow the Light of Christ to permeate you whole being.

Prayer:
Lord, I receive your Light. Illuminate all my darkness. Amen

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