Rebirth (Friday Devotional)

“Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

John 3:3-6

In just a few days, the baton will be passed from 2017 to 2018 and, arbitrarily but indisputably, people around the globe will seek rebirth. Whether with formal resolutions or not, most everyone enters the New Year reflecting upon the past year and hoping for something better in the days to come. We set new goals, we make promises to ourselves and others, we begin new programs—for many, January 1^st marks the beginning of “a whole new me.”

The New Year is a hopeful holiday for so many because we all fundamentally understand that we need rebirth, that transformation is necessary for us to become the best we can be. Whether physically, intellectually, vocationally, or relationally, each of us has gaps in our lives that need to be filled and weaknesses that need to be shored up. The New Year is the starting point for addressing those flaws by throwing all our efforts and plans and energy into the task of rebirth.

But Scripture reminds us that spiritual rebirth is not something we can accomplish ourselves. It is only by the grace of God in Jesus Christ that we can be “born from above,” only by “water and Spirit” that we can know God. Becoming a new, redeemed creation is something neither our words nor our works, neither our plans nor our programs can bring about. Only Jesus bring the hope, peace, joy, and love that our hearts cry out for.

If spiritual rebirth is something you long for in 2018, personally or corporately, you must first remember who bring it about. Individual rebirth doesn’t come from a reading plan or a prayer program. Church rebirth doesn’t come from a staff change or an infusion of new programs. National rebirth doesn’t come from elections or legislation. Ultimately, spiritual rebirth at every level comes not by your efforts, but by God’s grace. So in 2018, don’t pursue spiritual rebirth—rather, pursue the God who offers it.