Born Again
Posted by Karah
Pause
Stop for a minute and think about the ways your life has changed since you began to follow Jesus. Thank Him for making a way for you to know the Father.
Think about Jesus’ invitation to Nathanael to join Him in His work. You learned that true disciples know that Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with the Father. Today, you’ll learn that disciples of Christ experience spiritual rebirth and transformation. Read John 3:1-21 in your Bible.
“Jesus answered, ‘I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.'” —John 3:5-6
Ponder these questions:
Jesus told Nicodemus that two births were required to enter the kingdom of God: one physical and one spiritual. How is someone born again? (Hint: look at verses 15-18.)
Spiritual rebirth is an act of God in which the Holy Spirit makes you brand new. It happens in the moment you place your faith for salvation in Jesus. What word or words describe how you feel when you think about how you have been reborn? List a few ideas below.
Following Christ isn’t about following a bunch of rules, behaving better, or doing good works. It’s about being transformed. Why is that important for us to understand? Explain.
Respond
If you are a believer, list a few ways you can see the Holy Spirit transforming you. Ask your parents, a Christian friend, or a mentor about ways they see God at work in your life. Thank God for the ways His power is on display in your life.
Who in your life needs to hear about the good news of what Jesus has done and the transformation they can experience? What steps will you take to share the gospel this week?
For further study, read Romans 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; and 1 Peter 1:3-12.
Behind the Story
Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees, one of the religious ruling groups of the day. He had seen the miracles Jesus had done (such as the wedding at Cana in John 2) and knew that no ordinary human could do those things. Pharisees believed that religious and ethical purity earned God’s favor, which led to a deep concern for obeying every facet of the law. Nicodemus may have come to visit Jesus at night because it was less likely the other Pharisees would notice.
The Point
Disciples of Christ experience spiritual rebirth and transformation.
Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions