Get Messy
I like Jesus’ let’s-not-mess-around stance; He really is quite radical. When asked a questioned, He turned the conversation in the direction He wanted it to go. He wanted to talk about kingdom, eternal stuff. Nicodemus might not have been asking, but what he will hear will be life changing.
Jesus makes two statements in John 3:
“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Seeing and entering. Two verbs that are quite different. One can see without being a part of the action.
In order to be able to see things – the things God is up to, His kingdom happening on this earth, you have to have first start a new life. Literally we start start over again, in Jesus. Simple. A matter of believing He is the Son of God and His death removes our sins. A matter of starting a new life with Him in control instead of us.
But I want to do more, so much more, than see. I want to enter; I want to be a part of the second verse, the action. For this, He says I must be born of water and the Spirit.
When a tiny life comes into this world, they leave the water; the comfortable, warm place of the mother’s body. They leave what they have known behind.
Today, in my life, that is what Jesus is saying to me. “Lynn, you say you want to be a part of seeing lives changed. You want to be a part of miraclous redemption in people’s lives. You’re going to have to be born of water and the Spirit every day. Every day, in order to enter the kingdom of heaven – not just watch it – you will have to leave the comfortable, warm place that you know and step out and be a part of this world. You’re going to have to get messy.”
I am challenged. Lord, show me how to get messy with You.
