Listening to the Word

2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4 “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13 No one would wish distress, hardship, or pain on someone; yet, this painful discipline was God’s grace in Manasseh’s life. His capture by the Assyrians who put a hook in his nose was a particularly humiliating outcome of Manasseh’s rebellion against the Lord. After all his demonic worship, including human sacrifice, Manasseh “humbled himself greatly” before God. How has the Lord disciplined us in his love for us? How have we responded? This event of humiliating discipline was the turning point in Manasseh’s life. As we intercede in prayer for our prodigals and unsaved family and friends, are we aware of the lengths the Lord will go...

Isaiah 65-66; Psalms 62; John 3 “’Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Sprit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’” John 3:6-8 Jesus’ call that Nicodemus (and anyone interested in a relationship with God) be born again is both very simple and very profound. A new birth signifies a new identity, a new family, and a new Father. Spirit gives birth to spirit. God’s Spirit conceives spiritual life in those who become born again. This living Word grows within us and becomes ‘full term’ when we are willing to fully surrender (die) to our old life and enter a new life of the Spirit. The evidence of being born again (like the wind) is in our new thoughts, attitudes and behavior which come from the Spirit. We see the new life expressed like fruit on a tree. By our fruit, the reality...