What kind of example are you? by my Wife

John 3

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus 1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.[b] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[c] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[d] must be born again.’
8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” 9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. 10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?
11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man[e] has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.[f]

16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.[g]”

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As a mother, I put a lot of time and energy into raising my children. I try to make sure their basic needs are met such as food and shelter, while also meeting their emotional needs. I want them to feel loved and valued. I want them to be educated and socially well-adjusted. I try my best to prepare them for any situation they might encounter in life. As they get older, however, I am more and more aware that ultimately, they will have to live their own lives.

As much as I try to teach them, they will be responsible for making their own decisions. Their spiritual life will be their own.In this chapter, Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus what he must do in order to see the kingdom of heaven. He tells him that no one can enter the kingdom unless he is born again. Humans can produce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. (vs. 3-5).

For those of us who are in contact with young people, whether as parents, teachers, neighbors or relatives, this does not mean we are free from responsibility for their spiritual development. Children learn by example. They are always watching us and to see if our words are consistent with our actions.

When we talk to them about the Lord, we must also SHOW them the Lord. They should see him in our interactions with them and with others. We should be patient, kind and loving as we put the Fruits of the Spirit into action. We should be able to live in the light instead of hiding our actions in the dark.