8-22-2020

 Good Morning All, 

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.”

       When I used to coach the teeners in baseball, I spent much of my time teaching the kids about baseball.  I spent a lot of time just talking to them.  It might be in practice or in a game or just riding on the bus to and from the games.  When I would talk to them, there were three types of discussions.  The first one was just a general talk.  An example of this would be when I was coaching third base and just holler to the batter some encouragement.  The second type was a little more personal.  An example of this would be that I would call the batter toward me and I would walk toward him and then place my arm around his shoulder and speak to him.  This might involve a specific direction like for him to bunt or swing at this pitch or to not swing.  The third type was very personal.  If, after the “arm around the shoulder” talk failed; I would place my hands on his helmet, one hand on each side of his head and slowly lift his head up so that I looked him in the eye and he looked at me.  I then very slowly explained, again, what was expected of him.  In our verse for today, Jesus is holding Nicodemus by the helmet.

    Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a teacher, who did not understand what Jesus was explaining to him.  This occurred primarily because Nicodemus and the other Jewish leaders had stopped listening to God and his Word.  They had corrupted the true teaching of Scriptures and twisted into a self-serving ritualistic action.  They were no longer following their “shama.” The word “shama” means “hear”.  It is the first word of the great Hebrew statement of faith in Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is One.”  They failed to listen closely to what God was saying; they were not listening to God and thinking “this is what God is telling me; I should follow God’s direction” rather they were thinking “I have a better way than God’s way”   So God sent Jesus to get their attention with the preaching of the truth and sometimes Jesus did this by grabbing them by the helmet and speaking to them very directly.

    Jesus continues to speak to us.  He speaks to us with love but warns us if we twist his truth or replace his truth or corrupt his truth; he will take us by the helmet and start speaking “truly, truly I say to you.”  God’s Word will always accomplish the purpose that God intended it to do; to declare the great truth of his love given to us through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Any other use will lead us down the wrong path and into a path of destruction.  Take care to listen closely to God as he speaks to us.  Hear what he says to you; salvation only comes through Jesus our Lord.

Father, lead me in the path of your righteousness.  Keep me securely in your grace.  Guide me by your Spirit of Truth that I may live according to your will.  Be with those who are not listening to your voice and bring them home.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret