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 practicing evil is.

Let us look at what Jesus Christ meant when He said doing the truth.

In Strong reference the word doeth (G4238)comes from πράσσω pronounced prassō

pras’-so, is defined as: “A primary verb; to “practise”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication to execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): – commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.”

So therefore let us look at what is practising the truth?

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 practicing truth:

• Love GOD and our neighbours “1 John 5:2-3 (KJV) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”, “1 Thessalonians 4:9 (KJV) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”, “1 John 4:12 (KJV) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”,
• Coming to the light, that’s is coming to Jesus Christ as we read in John 3:20 – when we come to Him it becomes evident and people will see the change in us. We can say “look a what the LORD has done!” Then as in John 3:21 our actions can be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.
• The closer we walk with GOD the more He opens our heart to Himself and the more we reflect Him in our life – this is called sanctification. “1 John 3:6-7 (KJV) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. [7] Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”, “1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”,
• Believing Jesus Christ as we read in John3:18, “1 John 3:23-24 (KJV) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”,
• Making Jesus Christ LORD of our life and obeying Him “Romans 10:9 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”,
• Obeying the Word of God “1 John 3:23-24 (KJV) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”,
• Letting the light of GOD expose our sins and repenting of them as Jesus said in John 3:20-21,
• Come to the light be the light as in John 3:21,

Therefore let us be encouraged today that if we are in Jesus Christ to keep walking in the light practicing the truth and if not to come to the light because Jesus Christ said about Himself in Luke 9:56 (KJV) “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”