“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
Unless and until one is reborn from above by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word, trusts in Christ Jesus as his Redeemer, and is baptized in His name, he cannot see or understand the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night, did not know God’s kingdom and was not yet part of it because he, along with the rest of the Pharisees, had rejected John’s baptism and had not repented of his sins and trusted in Jesus as his Messiah and Savior.
Dear Lord Jesus, grant me to know You and look to You and Your cross in faith that I might see and be a part of Your eternal kingdom. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29
It is the gracious will of God that those whom He foreknew as His own would be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. The goal of God the Father in sending His own Son into the world to redeem us from sin and the just condemnation of God’s law is not that we would continue in our old sinful ways, but that we would repent of our sins, trust in Christ Jesus our Savior, and become like Him!
Grant us true repentance and faith in the Son, O God, so that we might become more and more like Him and be changed into His image at His coming. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
All of us suffer under the curse brought upon the world by sin, and, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we suffer the hatred of unbelievers and may be persecuted for clinging to Christ and His Word. Yet, the sufferings we endure in this world are nothing compared to the glory that awaits us as believers when Christ returns and takes us to be with Him in His eternal, heavenly kingdom.
Keep our eyes focused on You, O Lord, and on the glory that awaits us in heaven for the sake of Your innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” John 2:13-16
Should our churches, which are to be houses of prayer and places to hear God’s Word, be turned into places of business where goods and merchandise are sold and money exchanged? What do you think Jesus would say?
Grant that we have a true zeal for Your house, O Lord, and use it to hear Your Word and come before You with our prayers and praises. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Deuteronomy 5:29
God’s desire for us, His children through faith in Jesus Christ, is that our hearts would be changed from selfish and sinful hearts into hearts that honor Him, love Him, and trust Him above all things — hearts that gladly and willingly obey His holy commandments — that all would be well with us, and our children. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Ps. 51:10).
O gracious and merciful God, for the sake of Jesus and His cross, forgive me for the evil thoughts and desires of my heart, and cleanse me that I might live for You and serve You with all my heart and soul. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
