Church

CAPA Corner: Celebrate Your Birthday

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     Yesterday (10/16) was my birthday.  Birthdays are a big deal for my family.  As a matter of fact, we consider it somewhat of a national holiday when one in our family has a birthday.  We try to make the entire day special from the time the birthday boy/girl wakes up until he/she finally goes to bed at the end of the day.  This goes for dad & mom, too!  In addition to a few presents, we try to do whatever the birthday boy/girl wants to do, within reason on a limited budget.  Special meals are also prepared and served on a special celebration plate.  All of this may sound a bit much, but it is a family tradition that my family really enjoys.  I encourage you to make the birthdays in your family special, too.
     There is another birthday that should be special in the lives of those who truly belong to Jesus Christ.  This birthday should be even more special than our physical birthday.  This other birthday is our spiritual birthday; our “new-birth” day.  In talking with Nicodemus in John 3:3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  This statement puzzled Nicodemus.  He asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old?”  That is a good question!
     Nicodemus’ question gave Jesus the opportunity to explain to him how one can be born again.  In John 3:5, Jesus told Nicodemus that to receive new-birth, you must be born of the Spirit of God.  In other words, the Spirit of God must bring your sin-deadened heart to life to enable you to repent of (turn from) your sins and trust in the all-sufficient works of Jesus Christ alone in order to be forgiven of your sins and reconciled to God.  This new-birth day, accomplished by the work of God in our heart, is worthy of celebration!
     For those who are sure of their new birth in Jesus Christ, rejoice; celebrate the work of God in your heart that has now joined you to His family, forever!  You can choose any day to celebrate this or why not celebrate it each day with thanksgiving to God.  If you are NOT sure if you have received a new-birth day, contact one of the local Central pastors who would love to talk to you about what would be the most important day of your life – the day you trust in Jesus!  Now that’s a day worth celebrating!
Don Hulsey,
Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church
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