Nicodemus came to me by night and I told him that he must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. He didn’t understand, marveling at the impossibility of the literal meaning, but this phrase has been adopted by believers universally. Yet it is still a cryptic phrase although it is full of meaning. What does it mean to you? Do you equate it with a confession of belief in me; of key doctrinal elements of the Christian faith? This is widely accepted, but in the story of the encounter no definition is given other than being born of the spirit.

Do you ever get more of me than you bargained for? Have you approached me with limited expectations and found that I had more in mind? Job did. He complained of his treatment and demanded that I show up so he could plead his case directly. I did show up but Job never got the chance to ask his questions, since I had some questions for him. Halfway through my questions Job is ready to tap out but I’m not finished with him. When this encounter is over Job is transformed and doesn’t cling to his questions anymore. Do you have questions for me? Are you prepared to go through this process?

Are you generous? Do you support your church financially? Churches have real financial needs, and most provide strong encouragement, expectations, or requirements for financial support event down to the percentage of your income. If you support your church financially, do you see that as satisfying your duty to be generous? Does your church giving make you more or less generous to other worthy causes or those in need, or in giving tips to those who serve you? If you have internalized generosity as a value then you can be generous both to your church and to others in need. 

You can’t see me but you know I am with you. I told Peter that he was blessed because he knew I was the Christ and flesh and blood did not reveal this to him but my Father in heaven. Do you think that the same dynamic works with you? You live in a culture that oriented toward structured instruction. How much of what you know did you acquire through conventional instruction and how much did you get by revelation? Can you get everything you need without any direct input from me? Do you describe your faith as a relationship with me? If so, how open are the channels of communication?