Daily Devotional #23: Are we Christians by religion or by Heart?

in #devotional4 years ago

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Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Today's Scripture
“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! (Proverbs 7:14-15)

Thoughts for Today
This verse reminds me of when I was growing up, I used to see many people going to church on Sundays. They were dressed in their best attire, they carried their bibles with them and they were also on their best behavior. As a kid growing up at that time, I always thought I needed new clothes to go to church. Little did I see was God was not looking for those.

We think that we can put on our best every Sunday and go to church, but when church service is over, we put on our old self back and return to our old ways. This is not what it means to be a Christian.

To me being a Christian means to be born again. And speaking about being born again, we either think about baptism or the verse where Jesus talked to Nicodemus about being born again? I really love this part because Jesus was talking in a metaphoric way and it took me a very long time to really understood what Jesus was trying to say.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3-8)

Being a Christian to me is not about being the best version of myself and dressing my best, but it means dying to my old sinful nature and being a new creature in Christ. We become more like Him as we continue to abide in Him.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for us, it is through His blood that our sins are now forgiven. Through Him, we have redemption. We desire to walk in the spirit and in truth. We praise you, Lord! We ask this in Your Precious Name, Jesus. Amen!

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