John 3:3-7 Are You Born Again?

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 

I recently tried to explain to someone what it means to be born again. I did not do a very good job. Maybe that's why God has me studying this passage today. The next time I'll be better prepared. I found this  commentary which sums it up pretty well.  

Excerpts from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. By our first birth we were corrupt, born in sin; therefore we must be made new creatures. No stronger expression could have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state and character. We must be entirely different from what we were before. This new birth is from heaven and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. It is necessary to our happiness here and hereafter.  

It is necessary to enter Heaven. It is to begin life anew. It's a heart change, a mind change, a soul change and can only be made through love in Christ. It's to set our minds on the things of God and no longer focus on things of this world. It's to give up earthly worries and care only for what pleases God. 

Are you born of the Spirit? Lord I pray today for all who are reading this devotion. If they are not yet born of the Spirit I ask that Your Spirit fill them today and renew their heart and mind to Heavenly concerns. Renew their minds and turn them from their sinful nature to focus their minds on You. We ask this in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.

Blessings, Cecilia