WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD... second birth

What a hunger for forgiveness there is in our world! So many people are searching for forgiveness not only from others, but forgiveness from themselves. Unfortunetly, searching for forgiveness is sought in the wrong places, the emptiness and void people feel in their hearts is because the forgiveness they are searching for is the ultimate forgiving power found only in Jesus Christ.

Ernest Hemingway, a great author, wrote a story about a spanish father and his son. The story unfolds that the father wanted to reconcile with his son who had run away to Madrid. So the father took out an ad in a Madrid paper..."Paco, meet me at Hotel Montana - noon Tuesday - all is forgiven!" In Madrid the name "Paco" is very common, so when the father went to the hotel to meet his son, he found 800 young men named Paco waiting for their fathers!

Wow. I wonder if God placed such an ad in your local paper, how many would show up at the meeting place? You might not read such an ad in your paper, but there is another place that He has placed an ad, and that is in His Word! God's Word declares that we are ALL sinners but we can be forgiven.What an awesome promise!

 In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL,  I polled the readers the following question..."If you could return to your childhood, what period would you most like to re-experience?" The top 3 answers were:

1. 45% of those voting said that they would like to have a fresher, more innocent view of the world.

2. 27% voted and said that they would like to get more hugs and comfort as an adult.

3. 18% of those polled said that they would like to be without adult responsibilities.

Often times I hear people say, "I wish I could do it over!" Well from time to time, I think we all wish we could erase our mistakes, go back in time, maybe even wish we could start over from birth. If that was possible, oh how we would change some things.

Going back into our mother's womb is impossible, but being born again, having a rebirth or second birth is not impossible. In our first birth (physically) we are born to sin and death, but our second birth (spiritually) we die to self and gain forgiveness and freedom in Jesus Christ. The forgiveness of Christ is what brings us new life.

Confused? So was Nicodemus...

JOHN 3:4 "How can a man be born when is old? Nicodemus asked, Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born?"

Jesus answered...

JOHN 3:5-8 "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (6) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (7) You should not be surprised at My saying 'You must be born again.' (8) The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Is there someone in your world that needs your forgiveness today? How about the ultimate forgiveness of God? Today is the day of salvation ... why not place your ad today by sharing Gods love and forgiveness with someone who desperately is searching for it.

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD is a post designated for a weekly review of a personal study I am doing. This week I started a study on forgiveness. Incredible the power there is in forgiveness ... it is my prayer that you will experience that power today. -God bless!