Devotion
Flesh Cannot Do What Only the Spirit Can
“Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.' - John 3:6”
Nicodemus hears born again and pictures a grown man climbing back into his mother's womb. Jesus is not talking about biology at all.
When Jesus speaks of being born of water and the Spirit, the Jewish leader in front of him would have heard echoes of Ezekiel 36, where God promises to sprinkle clean water on his people, give them a new heart, and put his own Spirit inside them. In other words, Jesus is not inventing something strange. He is announcing that the promise Nicodemus taught from is now standing in the room. And then Jesus draws a hard line. Flesh produces flesh. Human effort produces human results. It can produce better behavior, tighter discipline, and a cleaner public record, but it cannot produce spiritual life. Only the Spirit can do that.
Practice
There is probably one area where you have already tried everything. The temper. The scrolling. The drinking. The bitterness you keep rehearsing in the shower. You have made plans, set alarms, downloaded apps, and started over more times than you would admit.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, I have been trying to grow myself with my own hands, and I am tired. I am not able to produce the life I keep promising God I will live. Do the work only you can do in me. I am handing you the one thing I have been fighting alone. Amen.
This Week’s Message
This devotion follows along with this week’s message.