Partners
In Hope

Surprise

Thursday March 5, 2020

Some people throw surprise parties to celebrate the birthday of a friend.  It’s always interesting to watch the face of the person who is being surprised.  They often seem pleased but sometimes the surprise can be overwhelming.  A Jewish ruler once surprised Jesus by coming to Him at night.  He said that he knew Jesus came from God because of the miracles He was doing.  However, the Jewish ruler was surprised and baffled by Jesus’ reply.
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was one of the Jewish rulers. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. We know that God is with you. If he weren’t, you couldn’t do the signs you are doing.”  Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can see God’s kingdom unless they are born again.”  (John 3:1-3 NIRV)
Nicodemus was confused by what Jesus said.  He started to reason about earthly birth and how someone couldn’t go back inside their mother’s womb and be born again.  Jesus told Nicodemus that he should not be surprised because people give birth to people, but the Spirit of God gives birth to the human spirit.  Jesus came into the world to save the world from sin, so that our dead spirits could be made alive. 


He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.  God poured out the Spirit on us freely. That’s because of what Jesus Christ our Savior has done.  (Titus 3:5b-6 NIRV)

Are we surprised that Jesus came into the world so we could be without sin and our dead spirit could be made alive?  When we give our will and life over to the care of God, our spirit is revived and we are enabled by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, who is in us and around us, to do those things that please God. 




Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your great love that caused Jesus to come into the world to die for my sins so that I might be born again by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen

©2020 Partners in Hope 
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

Audio for Surprise

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