April 24

Born again, not of corruptible seed. — 1 PETER i. 23.

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

AND yet men do marvel, as though it were a thing unreasonable that to live a new life we must be new-born. We may not understand how it is, but so it is. Christ has said it, and who shall gainsay his words?

The sinfulness of the carnal mind makes it needful. “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Man’s spiritual deadness makes it imperative. There must be new forces of spiritual life within. The Spirit of God, freely given, is “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The nature of God and of his kingdom necessitates it, for without holiness “no man shall see the Lord.” What fitness can there be for God’s service and his kingdom in the natural man, which “receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God”? But, thank God! what must be may be. The new birth is from above, and of the Spirit, likened to water for its cleansing and to wind for its subtle, penetrating power: and God will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Write this down, then, as an eternal law of the kingdom of grace, “Ye must be born again.”

How helpless Nature lies, Unconscious of her load! The heart unchanged can never rise To happiness and God.

ANNE STEELE.