Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Sometimes sick people need something more than medicine. A man sick of the palsy was one day brought to Jesus. His four friends had to break up the tile roof in order to lay him down at His feet. The sufferer did not ask for anything, not even healing. When Jesus saw him, He recognized that he was suffering from guilt. He said, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
Oh, how that poor man's face shone with happiness and peace! Now he was not afraid to die, for the awful burden that had been crushing out his life was lifted. But Jesus took another step. He commanded the sufferer to pick up his bed and walk away (see Mark 2:1-12).
Being "born again" is not a do-it-yourself project. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ... The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:6, 8).
One cannot know when or how the Holy Spirit first began to work on his heart. The seed of truth was sown. It was buried for a time; but finally it sprouted and bore fruit. Now he gladly makes his full surrender to the Lord.
Some call this "sudden conversion." But it follows years of work by the Holy Spirit. We are "born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God" (1 Peter 1:23). Now we will "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). When the Holy Spirit prompts you to read the Bible, do it. Accept His invitation to talk with the Lord in prayer. Do it. Cooperate with Him!
Remember the powerful sermon given by Jesus' mother Mary, the shortest in the Bible: "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5). Take each little step as He leads you by the hand! He is stronger than your sin. Don't wriggle out of His hand.
--Robert J. Wieland
Excerpted from: God's Message to Africa, 1989.
Copyright © 2014 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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