Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.
I once told a friend that I was a Christian, but that my life didn’t appear to be born again. My Christian life looked much like my old life. Same lifestyle, same temptations, same problems.
I said to my friend, “I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ born-again offer. I’m strongly attracted by the possibility of a new beginning, a fresh start on my religious life, a new source of motivation and empowerment. That would be amazing!”
And then I said, “‘I’ve been praying to Jesus for a whole year that I would be born again.”
“That’s not how it works,” my friend said. “Born again is a one-time experience when you become a Christian. You were spiritually dead, then God raised your dead spirit to life. That made you born again. It happened or it didn’t. It’s a one-time event, not something you can get again.”
There was no way to resolve our different views. My spiritual life obviously needed a renovation. My friend was sure my spiritual plumbing and framing could only be installed once. All you need, Daniel, is spiritual discipline to make your Christian life work.
But I was deeply drawn to Jesus’ promise, and I didn’t want to relegate his words to some past experience that I already had. I felt Jesus was offering me something new. Maybe a fresh start in my middle-aged Christian life. Maybe another opportunity to be born again.
Let’s take a quick look at born again in the Bible. It’s a term used by only two authors: John, the gospel-writer, and Peter, the fisherman and rock of the church.
John tells how Nicodemus the Pharisee sneaked away from his Jesus-hating colleagues for a midnight chat with Jesus. Jesus said, “You need to be born again. Not born from your mother, but by the spirit of God.” Nicodemus went away confused. Like me. Jesus’ words offered him something new and different and attractive. He wasn’t sure what it was and how it worked. Or what it meant to him.
Jesus’ words attract me too. Perhaps instead of living a mediocre Christian life on endless loop, Jesus wants to give me something richer, deeper, life-changing.
Another scripture author, Peter, says, “You were born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable” (1 Pet 1:22). He continues, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk” (1 Pet 2:2).
Reading Peter, I once again offer my life to Jesus and ask him to do something new. To change my motivations. To shift my inner life. To feed me like a baby on pure spiritual milk. To help me grow up.
Let’s pray.
Our father,
Every few years my approach to Christianity dries up, and my relationship with you dries up, and I need something new.
Renew in me the power and wonder of being born again. Renew your spirit in me. Renew my experience of walking with Jesus.
Help me to live the life of one who is born again.
Amen.
I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.
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