“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
September 20, 2020
If you know someone who’s not a Christian, don’t try to argue with them. Nobody was ever argued into the kingdom of Heaven. Anything someone can argue you into, you can be argued out of.
The problem is, they cannot see. Would you scold a blind man for not seeing? But a blind man would be foolish to say there’s no light just because he cannot see it. There is light, but man needs more than light. He needs sight. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
He may have 20/20 sight, but spiritually he is blind. “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18). The eyes may be fine, but the heart is blind.
Are there people you have shared the Gospel with—perhaps even members of your own family—but they haven’t a clue as to what it’s all about? They never will until the Holy Spirit opens their understanding.
Before I ever preach, I get on my knees and pray, “O, God, give sight to those who need Jesus,” because I know it takes more than preaching; it takes the work of the Holy Spirit for someone to be saved. When you want your loved one to come to Christ, pray for them according to 2 Corinthians 4:4: “O God, open the eyes of those whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, that the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God, might shine on them.”
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”