My, Devotion to Him #47
VERSE PASSAGE: John 3:10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?” – NIV
The Greek word translated “master” here actually means, “an instructor, doctor, teacher”. Nicodemus was a well educated man in the religious arena, yet he did not understand what Jesus was talking about.
If you go back before John 3:10 you can see that that Jesus was talking about being born again and Nicodemus questioned what Jesus was talking about and asking “how could this be”.
Nicodemus’ relationship with God was all academic. He knew a lot about God, but he didn’t know God personally. Jesus had a union with God that was unique and Nicodemus was interested. God was Jesus’ father. This was foreign to Nicodemus.
Jesus had not been educated by man and yet He knew God in a way that the teachers of the law (Pharisees) and others of His day didn’t. He stunned Nicodemus when He told him that the only way to truly know God was through an experience of becoming born again.
The number one thing that sets Christianity apart from religion is this born again experience. We don’t just have a different doctrine than the others. We have been born from above. We have Jesus Himself living in our hearts. Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. We truly fellowship with God as our father.
It is so sad to see that in some of today’s church’s people worship the text and not the one whom it speaks about. It’s sad that churches are proclaim following Gods law but have absolutely no relationship with Him. It’s sad how churches demand the people to do things the Bible instructs yet never teach how to have a personal connection with God.
One of the worst things that could ever happen in this life, is to live a life dedicated to the church instead of being dedicated to God. Because when we are dedicated to God we want Him. We want His Word, we want time alone with Him in prayer, we want to actually learn about Him and who He is.
Another sad thing that is plaguing the church is many Christians will not listen to someone who does not have credentials. Yet, we see from this that Nicodemus knew the word, he was well educated in religious things yet he did not know God on a personal bases. It does not matter how many degrees you have and how long you have studied Gods Word. It means absolutely nothing if you do not have a personal relationship with God.
Beware of people whom proclaim they have studied Gods Word and can show degrees after degrees. If they do not have a personal connection to God then all they have done means nothing and should be taken as such.
Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 