A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
June 7, 2009
I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (v.3).
READ: John 3:1-15
The electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that helps your doctor determine your heart’s health by measuring its electrical activity. The pattern of these signals can tell your physician if your heart is functioning normally, under stress, or damaged. What if every follower of Jesus could get a spiritual EKG today? I wonder what it would say about our spiritual health.
Jesus gave this sort of test to a man named Nicodemus (John 3). Externally, Nicodemus looked like a man who was spiritually healthy. He was from the upper class of Jewish society and was conservative in his Jewish beliefs. He was a Pharisee (belonging to the strict religious sect of Judaism) and was a member of the ruling council (Sanhedrin), which implies he was a rabbi. He was sensitive to the prevailing doctrinal trends of the time and possessed the appearance of a man who had a strong spiritual heartbeat. He was well-versed in the Torah and was even interested in Jesus’ teaching.
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (v.2), fearing intense criticism and persecution. But Jesus didn’t criticize him. Instead, He met him at his point of need—he needed to be born again. In his time with Jesus, Nicodemus found out that his spiritual EKG didn’t even register a heartbeat. He was spiritually dead. External conformity to the Law, knowledge of the Torah, and his ethnicity (Jewish) were not enough to experience the kingdom of God. He needed a new heart, one that could be given by God.
Many people are relying on external religious associations—church attendance, religious friends, good works—to grant them access into God’s family. But the only way to gain access into the kingdom of God is to have a heart transplant, where God takes out our dead heart and replaces it with a new one (Ezekiel 36:26). —Marvin Williams
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Filed under Devotional, Our Daily Journey and tagged with Assurance, Christian Living, daily devotional, Faith, God's plan, Grace, obedience, Salvation, Trust.
hey what do you mean by “But the only way to gain access into the kingdom of God is to have a heart transplant, where God takes out our dead heart and replaces it with a new one”.I dont understand.Is it that the things we do must be done for God from our heart?
Hi muthu,
Basically Ezekial 36: 26 means that the Lord’s renewal of his people was not merely an outward cleansing; the Lord would give Israel a new heart and a new spirit (11:19; 18:31). The heart and spirit are the sources of the thoughts and will that underlie action. Their stony, stubborn heart would now become a tender, responsive heart (literally a heart of flesh), ready to serve the Lord. The spirit of rebellion would be replaced with a spirit of obedience.
ohhh ok but how do i get that kind of heart?Is it by obeying God?
God will give you a new heart when you receive Him into your life. His Holy Spirit is at work in all believers to help us to obey Him. We just have to co-operate with Him. The very fact that you desire to obey Him is testament of God’s work in your life already .:)
oh ok thanks pohkas fangus.:)