POCKET = PLACE TO BE BORN AGAIN

THE PASSAGES

John 3:1-15

I was a devoted Buddhist before I read the book of John. When I finished reading it, I was a convert. My conversion experience was like a light bulb moment. There were no dramatic miracles. It was simply a click in my brain and a flushing of warmth in my heart. I found Him and crawled inside His pocket.

My conversion was very much like a little joey, a Koala joey. Yes, Kangaroo baby is not the only joey! All baby marsupials are called joeys — including Koala. Koala joeys are born blind. They are furless and weigh less than one gram. The newborn joey is roughly 2 centimetres long, as tiny as a jelly bean. The tiny jelly bean joeys are vulnerable and they need to find their way into their mother’s pouch to be saved.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee (John 3:1-2). His encounter with Jesus brought him a reborn experience similar to mine. He came to Jesus in the dark to avoid being detected by fellow Pharisees. He was taught differently and believed in different teaching. He had a burning question to ask Jesus: Who are you, Jesus? Jesus told him about being born again by the Spirit. Nicodemus must have had that light bulb moment. Later he appears again to stand up for Jesus at the Jewish ruling council and go on to help prepare Jesus’ body for burial after the crucifixion. Evidently, he was born again just like the little joey coming out of the mother’s pocket.

In my past life, I was taught to do a good deed and rely on myself. With prayer and meditation, I would reach nirvana to become nothingness. I strived for that but I became tired. When I found Jesus, my life has a better meaning. I know that I am loved and I don’t have to rely on myself. In fact, I can’t rely on myself. But I can do all things through Jesus (Philippians 4:13). I am loved by the heavenly King who sent His only son to die for me so He could redeem me back to heaven. I am His daughter. I am worth His while. I have found peace in His reassurance. Why wouldn’t I crawl into His pocket and be born again?

Are you seeking? Are you feeling tired and dissatisfied even though you accomplished what you’ve been led to believe you should accomplish? C.S. Lewis once said, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” The answer is simple, we were made for heaven.

THE PRAYERS

Throughout this week, pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and bring you into His pocket. Pray that through His words, you may grow and be born again of the spirit just like Nicodemus.

DAILY SCRIPTURES

SUNDAY > JOHN 3:1-3
MONDAY > JOHN 3:4-5
TUESDAY > JOHN 3:6-7
WEDNESDAY > JOHN 3:8
THURSDAY > JOHN 3:9-11
FRIDAY > JOHN 3:12-13
SATURDAY > JOHN 3:14-15