So Loved

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:1-21

My world has been some what turned upside down in the past few days. Lilly is here, our first grandchild and her parents along with our other daughter and a wonderful boy friend. We have been thoroughly blessed and we can't find much right now. Having the people we love close by can create some unexpected hubbub, but it has been wonderful and making room for love is never a mistake. Upside, topsy-turvy and loving it!

Nicodemus wanted to know how to be close to God and Jesus told him he must be born again. Jesus turned his world upside down suggesting that this educated and faithful man must be born again. The image and idea was upsetting, considering being vulnerable and undone, upside down entering the world. Jesus encouraged him by promising him that God did indeed love him, and that God was sending love into the world, making relationship with God direct and close.

Today, as we watch our grand daughter toddle around and unload our bookshelves, I ask God to help me let go of the familiar order and embrace the gifts of love in our lives. May control give way to celebration, and power to weakness. May we all find God by being willing to be upside down and turned over for love.