2nd. January. 2021. Daily Devotion.
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’
3 Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again’
4 ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’
5 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ John 3:1-8
As a Christian you are a reborn person. Christ’s grace extends to all who believe in him, who confess him, and are born again of water and the spirit. That’s the Gospel truth. Later, in verse 16, Christ says “all” who believe in him. Clearly if we believe in Christ, we will be born again, as new people. This is a very liberating notion: We are to become new people. It is within our grasp to become better, to cast off old attitudes that slow our spiritual growth. This is the start of a new calendar year, a time when rebirth is especially appropriate to consider.
New Year’s Prayer: Name of Jesus
O God, your days are without beginning
and without end.
We dedicate this coming year to you.
Give us such prosperity as you know is good for us,
and make us abound in doing whatever is pleasing to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O Jesus, our Saviour and our Lord,
by the proclamation of your grace,
you took the yoke of the law from our necks,
and removed the burden from our shoulders to your own;
Hear the prayers of your Church,
that we may joyfully serve you here,
and see your glorious presence in all its joy in the life to come;
through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed,
and live and govern all things, now and forever. Amen.
Mozarabic Collect for New Year
Celtic Prayer for the Morning
I will kindle my fire this morning in the presence of the holy angels of heaven; Without malice, without jealousy, without envy, without fear; without terror of any one under the sun, but the Holy Son of God to shield me.
God, kindle thou in my heart within a flame of love to my neighbour, to my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all; To the brave, to the coward, to the man in the street, O Son of the loveliest Mary, from the lowliest thing that lives to the Name that is highest of all. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.
Coronavirus prayer
Holy Spirit, as families adjust to everyone being home as businesses and schools have had to close again, we ask that You guide people in their new realities. Give spouses grace for each other. Prompt worn-out parents to speak words of kindness and encouragement to their children. Help children find creative ways to experience the beauty of all you have created and continue learning.
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. ~Psalm 57:1 (NIV)
