Mar 27

God does not desire us to accept his Son only for his gifts to the outward life or even the life of the soul (mind, will, emotions). First we are to make him Lord of the deepest part of our being, the spirit, and then all else will follow.

When Jesus asked the disciples who the crowds said that he was, he redirected their attention away from those external things, which did not necessarily affect them, to what did affect them: He asked them who they considered him to be: "'But what about you?' he asked. "Who do you say I am?'" (Luke 9:20).

And so he did with Nicodemus as well. Jesus directed his attention away from the external signs which anyone could see concerning the coming of the kingdom of God -- the miracles -- to the one sign needed to see and enter that kingdom: the new birth in Christ.

If we would know true fulfillment in life, then we must quit looking at what we want and start looking at what God wants. We want many things in life, some seemingly very pious, such as serving God. But when a person with such a view was confronted by Jesus, he told her plainly, "Martha, Martha, . . . you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed" (Luke 10:41, 42).

Scripture for today: Luke 10: 41, 42
Thought for today: Jesus is the one thing needful.
Prayer for today: Help me, Jesus, never to lose sight of what is important in life: you.

MAR 27