Corona Devo 1023

Have you ever known someone that is a genius in book-smarts but understanding the simpler things can be a challenge for them?  They have the "facts" down, but the "street-smarts" seem to baffle them sometimes.

“How can this be?”, they might ask, or their body-language shouts.

Such was the case with Nicodemus, a well-learned, highly-educated scholar and religious-elite among the Jewish people.  He knew God's Word and Law inside and out, and he followed all the rules of it.  

But Jesus baffled him.  

Or, more specifically, the simplicity and necessity of being "born again" baffled him.

It baffles me too.  “How can this be?”

But, just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, (and He explains to us through the Bible today too)--a big part of faith is...having faith in God's processes and order of things.  Believing, trusting, accepting...even when we don't understand fully.  

I honestly don't think we even can understand the "process" of being "born again".  That's why God is God and we are us, His children.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. (2) He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”   

(3) Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."  

(4) “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”  

(5) Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (6) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (7) You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  

(9) “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.  
(10) “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? (11) Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. (12) I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?  ~John 3:1-12

Even the most intelligent and well-learned people still get tripped-up on Jesus and the simplicity of being saved by Him, because accepting Jesus into their hearts (being born again) doesn't make "sense".

“How can this be?”

I'm still not sure exactly, but I don't think we (as humans) ever will be.  We can't (fully) grasp the spiritual transition of not-knowing God and then making a decision to know Him (being born again).  So, since we can't fully "get" it, we just have to decide to accept it, or "enter into it".  

There are many pieces to faith-in-Jesus and God that don't make sense to our mortal minds.  

This week, for one.  

Why in the world would Jesus Christ, who existed at the dawn of Creation and was a part of creating Creation...

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was with God in the beginning... ~John 1:1
• The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  ~John 1:14

...why would He choose to be born (as a man) and if He did choose that, why not be born into a palace, or at least an inn?  Instead He chose (because He is God--so everything is under His command) to be born in a cruddy stable.  He was laid in a (filthy!) manger (an animal feeding trough!).  

• While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them (Luke 2:6-7).

“How can this be?”

I'm not a genius in book-smarts or street-smarts, but either way...understanding why God sent His Son to be born in the manner that He was...is beyond me.  

But--just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, (and He explains to us through the Bible today too)--a big part of faith is...having faith in God's processes and order of things.  Believing, trusting, accepting...even when we don't understand fully.  

We'll never understand fully the depth of God's love for us and the lengths He went to and still goes to in order to connect with us in relationship with Him.

“How can this be?”

I'm not sure, but I praise the Lord that it is.  

Today, believe in God and His processes.  Trust Him.  Accept even the pieces of faith that we cannot explain or understand.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com