John 3:1-21 (KJV)

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 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.

4 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?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

In the previous devotion we discovered what we are saved to when we are born again.

Let us look at what Jesus Christ meant when saying practicing evil.

Practice as defined in the Free Dictionary means

“1. To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of: practices courtesy in social situations.

2. To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: practice a dance step.

3. To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill: practiced the students in handwriting.

4. To work at, especially as a profession: practice law.

5. To carry out in action; observe:”

We can note here that the more one practices the better one becomes at it and the more we do it the more of an ingrained habit it becomes.

Here are some pointers regarding evil and sin:

• It is evil and sin when we cross the boundaries GOD gave us. These boundaries are there to give us and everyone else around us a good life – blessing. If we cross the boundaries instead of a good life for us an those around us it over time will turn our bad – curse.
• Children by default don’t have to learn to do wrong but need to be taught to do what it right. When GOD shows us something is wrong through our conscience, the Word of God, etc. then we know it is sin. “James 4:17 (KJV) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”,
• Obeying the devil, “John 8:43-47 (KJV) Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. [44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. [45] And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. [46] Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? [47] He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”,
• Habitual sinning, stepping out of GOD’s boundaries “1 John 3:10 (KJV) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
• Loving darkness rather than light as referred to verse 19 in John 3. People try to hide from GOD just like Adam and Eve hid from Him because of evil deeds. “Genesis 3:8 (KJV) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

Let us be encouraged today to stay in the boundaries GOD has given us. When we make decisions we should ask ourself what would Jesus Christ do. When we think are these thought pure? “Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

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