Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? -John 3:7-10 NRSV
Education and training will get you so far in life. Like Nicodemus we are all unable to see and understand the important things in life with our natural eyes. There is an entire world we are unable to discern until we are born from above. Yet when the Holy Spirit comes everything changes as our inner eyes are opened and our lives are turned upside down.
Yet many are not really prepared for this wild ride. I had a powerful new birth experience when I was young. My reaction was to contain it and cloak it in religion. I was not ready for this powerful blowing wind. Perhaps no one really is. Maybe it is a matter of trusting the Holy Spirit to take us to unknown places as we cede control of our lives to Him?
Lord, I am a control freak. I am uncomfortable not being in control. Help me to surrender to the wind of your Spirit.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
Truth be known, we are all control freaks to one degree or another. Dying to "self" is akin to letting go of "control" and that dying to "self" is the continuing, moment by moment, day by day struggle I face. Unless I CONSTANTLY keep my eyes or Jesus I fail.
ReplyDeleteDying to "self" is akin to letting go of "control"
ReplyDeleteLove that Susan!
People often give me that look that says: "I don't know where you are going or where you are coming from!" My answer? So is every one who is born of the Spirit. That's usually enough said.
ReplyDelete