Born of the Spirit--Jan. 15, 2018

Of some things we can be sure,

as long as the earth endures:

seedtime and then harvest,

summer and then winter,

or day and then night.

But this is equally certain:

 if we make our life goals wealth and privilege,

or status and honor, or luxury and pleasure;

if what we seek most is fame and glory,

or praise for our own achievements,

then these idols we worship

are doomed to fail us.

Jesus, you did not glorify yourself,

but you taught us how to live--

to be born of your Spirit,

and to follow where

the Spirit leads.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112

Gen. 8:6-22

Heb. 4:14-5:6

John 2:23-3:1-15

Selected Verses

Ps. 135:18

Those who make [idols]
          and all who trust them
          shall become like them.

Gen. 8:22

"…As long as the earth endures,

          seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,

summer and winter, day and night,

          shall not cease."

                                    [The LORD]

Heb. 5:5

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

            "You are my Son,

                 today I have begotten you" …

John 2:8

"…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."  [Jesus to Nicodemus]