Read James 1:16-18
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:16-18)
Although God’s creation both of the world and of man was very good, the disobedience of Adam and Eve (see Genesis chapter 3) resulted in the fall of both mankind and nature – sin, suffering, sickness and death entered the world. Both creation and we ourselves are groaning and waiting (see Romans 8:22-23).
We are sinful both by nature and by our thoughts, words and deeds. Even if we try to change and make resolution after resolution we still fail. But God, in His love and mercy, has provided us with a fantastic good and perfect gift – a new creation, a new birth.
The story of Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 explains this gift of new birth which God graciously offers to everyone. Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, commended Him as being: a “teacher who has come from God”. But Jesus said to Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3). Nicodemus could not understand how he could enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5).
For us, who are living after the earthly life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, when we repent, believe and receive Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Saviour and Lord, the Holy Spirit enters our life and we are given a new birth – born of the Spirit.
The early Jewish Christians were: “a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (James 1:18), indicating that a greater number of people will eventually be born again. We too have the privilege of being part of these firstfruits.
We praise You, Lord, for our new birth and all that it means to us.
This meditation is extracted from “Transformation from Belief to Behaviour: 39 Lenten Meditations on the Letter of James” by Peter Young and used with permission by the author. It may be used solely for personal, noncommercial, and informational purposes. Republication or redistribution of this devotional is prohibited.
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