Conversion: April 1, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2014.

CONVERSION

DEFINITION:

Change into something of different form or properties; to change from one belief or view to another.

SCRIPTURE:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I Peter 1:3.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

As young people we both can remember listening to adults, youth and even children tell about their conversion. They would say, “The greatest thing that ever happened to me was the day I met Jesus Christ.” Neither of us had a shattering emotional experience at our conversion even though it was an experience we never have forgotten. It was a response to the moving of God’s Holy Spirit in our life. We look back now on all that has happened to us during our lifetime and without a doubt, the decision we made to accept Jesus as our Savior stands out today as the greatest decision of our lives.

Peter in I Peter chapter one deals with the subject of conversion. The words “begotten us again” means a rebirth or born again. Some translations read, “He has given us new birth into a living hope.”

In verse three Peter tells us why the experience of the new birth is so important. First, it gives us a hope of heaven when we die. And secondly, our conversion gives us a living and lasting hope to carry us through this life because Jesus conquered death. He was resurrected after he died on the cross and He is alive today. He is working in the lives of believers today to change and convert them into a new person.

In the gospel of John, third chapter, Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. The Pharisees thought of Jesus as an enemy therefore Nicodemus came to Jesus by night so that his fellow Pharisees would not know about his visit. He said to Jesus that he knew that He was a teacher come from God because no one could do the signs He had done unless God was with Him.

Nicodemus had knowledge about Jesus but knowledge does not save. Nicodemus came seeking, probably out of curiosity, to learn more but did not know what he was seeking. Nicodemus had not really asked a question but Jesus who knows the heart of all of us knew what Nicodemus was seeking.

Jesus answered his asked question saying: “I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus and Jesus had a lengthy conversation about being born again or conversion (verses 4-15).  In the 16th verse Jesus said what many feel is the most significant verse in the Bible. This verse concisely tells us of God’s plan of salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

We are all sinners but God loves all of us and loves us so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we can have eternal life if we believe in Him. This is the only way we can have a spiritual conversion. It is God’s act of spiritual regeneration in us whereby we receive eternal life.

In recent weeks we have had numerous of our friends who are reading our devotionals ask how they can know Jesus or expressed that they want to become a Christian. If you want to know more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus, just drop us an email and we will send you scripture helps that will help you understand how to accept Jesus as your Savior and make Him part of your life.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week continues to challenge us to memorize the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20: 4-6. (Paraphrased)

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness. You shall not worship them or serve them.

PRAYER:

Thank You for Your mercy that saved me. In these troubled times never have I been more thankful for the certainty that I have knowing personally my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I praise You that my conversion process that changed my life is real and what I want to share with all those that I meet.