John 3:6; “That which is
born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
That which is born of flesh is flesh. That which is born of a sinful nature has a
sinful nature. There are those who would
deny this. Some think you can stare at
your belly button long enough to become God.
Some believe that God exists in us from the beginning and that they can
coax him out. Some will tell you that
God exists in the hopes and dreams of little boys and girls and all we must do
is to wish for all to be well. All the
while they are deceiving themselves and others.
This is bad enough but then they are also missing the true gift which
God gives to us.
By nature, we are sinful, we are
flesh. Yet it is by God’s grace that we
are born, that is reborn, of Spirit. We
do this through Baptism. We receive
God’s Spirit by Baptism. This is a
completely unnatural act. It doesn’t
occur because we want it to or because we can make it occur; it occurs because
God makes it happen. As we look at the
sacraments we see where God takes everyday things and makes them do
extraordinary actions. It is not because
of the everyday thing, like water; it is by God’s Word that this occurs. This is the gift of God to us, and we can
relish it. We can savor it and we can
enjoy it. God gives it to us so that we
can be called his children. We are heirs
to his wondrous kingdom.
This change is not manmade, or man
found. While some try to claim that they
found Jesus; remember Jesus has never been lost; it is always the other way
around. Jesus comes to you and after you
with his Word bidding you to come to him.
He wants to bring you into his kingdom, and he chooses to do this
through “the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.” We do not come to God, find God, make
ourselves God or any other such thought; we are born of flesh and flesh we
are.
Yet God, in his unfathomable love,
re-creates by Baptism to be his children and heirs. This gift, this wondrous gift, is given to
us. Then, God empowers us and encourages
to go, and bring this gift along and give this gift to others. So, as you give your gifts this Christmas
season, remember the greatest gift which is given to you by God. We receive the washing and the cleansing of
our souls, and we are re-created into his children to life eternal.
Dear
Father, you give us the gift of spirit by your Holy Spirit. Help us to see and to trust your grace to
save us. Give us the wisdom to go forth
and to boldly speak of your forgiveness.
Strengthen our spirit to serve you only.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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