John 3:5-7 NLT – Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. [6] Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. [7] So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”

To enter the Kingdom we need to be born again. The first time we are born we are born of water. Most Bible scholars agree this is when the water breaks in our mothers womb and we are born into the world. When we are born again we are born of the Spirit. This is when the Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration. This happens after we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit cleanses us and then takes up residence inside us. This new beginning means we are cleansed of our sin, we are forgiven by God, we are saved and we begin a new life in Christ. We are now God’s children and we will spend eternity with Him.

If you would like to be born again and enter God’s Kingdom, you can pray this prayer.

Dear God, I want to be born again and a part of Your Kingdom. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sin. I confess my sin to You and I ask for Your forgiveness. Right now I ask Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour. I ask the Holy Spirit come in and cleanse me. Help me to live my new life for Your Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, I would encourage you to visit my discipleship page above.

James 5:7-8 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. [8] You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

As I read on these verses and reflect what I have learned from living in a country town, four things jump out at me.

1. James tell us to be patient as we wait for the Lord’s return. He likens it to farmers waiting for the crops to grow. They can’t make it happen any faster. They just patiently wait.

2. While farmers are patient waiting for the crops to grow, they are busy with other things too like caring for sheep, fencing, or servicing vehicles. Even in summer they are preparing for seeding.

3. Like the farmer to plants see and then hopes to have a good harvest, we as Christians look forward in hope and faith that we will be rewarded when Jesus returns for us.

4. Jesus will return at the appointed time. We can\’t make it come sooner. However, that time is sooner than it was yesterday!

Lesson: Wait patiently for Jesus, but work diligently in the meantime.