DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 18 April 2022 — A ruler’s enquiry reward
DCLM Higher Everyday 18 April 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — A ruler’s enquiry reward
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TOPIC: A RULER’S ENQUIRY REWARDED
TEXT: JOHN 3:1-8
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (JOHN 3:3).
MESSAGE:
Seeking useful clarification is the hallmark of a good student. Nicodemus demonstrated this by removing his pharisaic hypocritical veil in order to find answers to matters of salvation from the Lord Himself. He did not feel too ‘well-positioned’ or ‘too-big’ to learn.
The burning issue on this ruler’s mind was strong enough to make him go out alone in the night to the place where the Teacher was. He could not suppress his amazement about the wonderful teaching he heard from the Master. One may ask; where were his colleagues with their broad phylacteries and enlarged garments’ borders when he came to Christ?
The length of time of upholding fake ideals or cleaving to wrong beliefs can never establish it as right. Pursue the real thing and stand out boldly. Some people know that the truth would take them away from their cherished earthly pleasures, so they prefer to avoid it entirely.
In the end, the ruler got a reward for his enquiry. Nicodemus discovered the truth about salvation – God’s requirement for seeing His Kingdom. Have you discovered this? Are you born again?
QUOTE: He discovered the truth.
CHALLENGE: Move closer to God, and He will expound His words to you.
PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart that is thirsty to know You more.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
