Our Daily Bread -- Too Late To Change?
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Our Daily Bread -- Too Late To Change?January 10, 2015
READ: John 3:1-8,13-16 Nicodemus said to [Jesus], “How can a man be born when he is old?” —John 3:4 There are sayings in many languages about the difficulty of changing long-established habits. In English, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” In French, “Ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire la grimace” (You can’t teach an old monkey how to pull a funny face). In Spanish, “El loro viejo no aprende a hablar” (An old parrot can’t learn to speak). When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be “born again” to “see the kingdom of God,” he replied, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:3-4). Professor and author Merrill Tenney suggests that Nicodemus was saying, in effect, “I acknowledge that a new birth is necessary, but I am too old to change. My pattern of life is set. Physical birth is out of the question and psychological rebirth seems even less probable . . . . Is not my case hopeless?” Jesus’ reply included these words, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (v.16). That is the offer of new life and a new beginning for anyone, young or old. Whatever our age or situation in life, with God’s power, it’s not too late to change. —David McCasland Father, old habits are hard to break, new ones Because God is powerful, change is possible. Bible in a year: Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17 InsightNicodemus was one of Israel’s religious rulers and leading teachers (v.10). He apparently turned to Christ and even assisted Joseph of Arimathea with Jesus’ burial (19:38-39). Share your comments on today’s devotional at odb.org.
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To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org. RBC Ministries produces a variety of Bible resources, which are available for the asking. Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable RBC Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination. Write rbc@rbc.org for more information. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | |||||||||
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