We all have goals and dreams we want to achieve, and we all have obstacles in our way. The key to success is learning how to do what you are supposed to, no matter what the people around you are doing.
The story Nicodemus is the story of a religious leader who did what he had to do even though he had to sneak at night to see Jesus.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a group of Jewish religious leaders known for strictly following the commandments given to Moses. Jesus had a complex relationship with the Pharisees. He respected their commitment to the law but often criticized them for allowing the law to keep them from doing the right thing for people.
One night, Nicodemus went to meet Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Jesus said back to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus later said to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.”
Nicodemus went to Jesus at night, probably to avoid social and religious repercussions. Jesus was seen as a threat by the Pharisees, and imagine what the people were saying about him saying that he was the Son of God. By meeting with Jesus at night, he was attempting to protect his reputation.
But the key is that he sought Jesus, and that is the most important thing we can do. Jesus came so that we could have a living example of how to live and act the right way, and our job is to seek him first and often for guidance, direction, love, peace, and joy.
When you are struggling with anything or need some reassurance, Jesus is there for you. Like Nicodemus, we may encounter challenges and questions along the way. But through faith and trust in God, we can experience the transformative power of being a follower of and believer in Jesus.
SOMETHING(s) TO THINK ABOUT
1 - What was your biggest takeaway from this devotional?
2 - When you encounter new challenges and questions, what do you do? Do you try to figure it out on your own, or do you seek God’s guidance?
3 - Are there areas of your faith in which you want to dive deeper? How can you challenge yourself to do so and dive deeper?
4 - When you see other people struggling, how can you support them?
My Prayer:
My Father. Thank you for all the blessings you have given me, but most importantly, thank you for our relationship. I pray that I always find ways to seek you, and I pray that you are always there to greet meet, love me, and give me grace. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
For a printable PDF version of this devo, click here: Nicodemus: A Seeker in the Night