A Daily Devotion for Friday, August 4
- ontrakk
- Aug 4, 2023
- 1 min read
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit."
Jesus is describing what needs to happen for us to be saved. He does not use the word baptism. Baptism is our outward and visible action, proclaiming publicly that we believe. I have read that when Jesus uses the word "water" he is refering to being born, or born again. For me, it is possible to overthink and to become too concrete here. I believe Jesus needs each one of us to have symbolically started over, to live our lives with Him.
Holy Lord, you have shown us so clearly what is the right way to you. Help me to remember my baptism, each and every day. Amen
Becky, transforming
Friday, August 4th, 2023
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Being born of water refers to spiritual cleansing, and being born of the Spirit is God putting His Spirit in us. Jesus was saying the same thing in different ways. A time is coming with a new beginning when God will sprinkle water on us and cleanse us from all our uncleanness. And God will put His Spirit within us causing us to walk in His statutes being careful to obey Him. This is the requirement for anyone to enter the kingdom of God . That all of it i…
John 3:5
We treat baptism as a sacrament because we believe it is a ritual ordained by Jesus. The verse in John’s gospel makes it explicit. However, we must remember it is a symbol of renunciation of sin and acceptance into the body of Christ and not a check-off box to redeem for a ticket to heaven. Our rebirth is both of water and the Spirit. Without the latter, it is an empty gesture.
Prayer - Gracious and merciful God, on this day, I remember my baptism and am grateful. Amen