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Back in 1527, a deadly plague hit Martin Luther’s town of Wittenberg and he wrote a letter to a friend, explaining how churches should deal with such complicated circumstances. This is very wise and balanced advice for us today.

“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:3,4)

One of the main topics of Jesus’ teaching was the kingdom of God. This topic was something that was on everyone’s mind. Nicodemus wanted to know more about the kingdom of God. Understanding this, Jesus opens with the stunning statement. “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.”

While Nicodemus understood the words that Jesus said, he stumbles in understanding the meaning. The first thought he has is of the natural birth of a child. How can this possibly be! Can you imagine for a second what he must have thought? The impossibility of being born a second time as a baby. Who then could ever see the kingdom of God?

In his day, many thought that if you were a descendant of Abraham, you automatically got entrance into the kingdom of God. With this understanding, many gave no further thought to any deeper meaning to life. They were resting in the knowledge of being God’s chosen people.

The Pharisee’s were consumed with outward appearances. Of which Nicodemus was a member. These men made a show of their devotion to God, praying loudly in public, giving so others may see them and fasting so that everyone knew how godly they were. All of these things were done for the glory of men, not from a devotion of heart.

Like Nicodemus, often we are consumed with the temporal life. Where we are going, what we are doing, and how much we are making. We are overlooking the more essential matters in life and eternity. Nicodemus’s mind is so consumed with it that he is not ready to think in a spiritual manner. If we don’t take the time to slow down and meditate on God’s word, we will miss all the spiritual blessings and insights that God has for us.

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)

Questions to Ponder
When God looks at your heart, what does he see? A material and selfish minded person or a spiritually-minded person?