Bible Verse
Here, you’ll know & learn:
・Verse Context
・Key Words
・References from Other Verses of the Bible
・Main Message
・How to Apply This Verse in Your Life
・How to Further Study the Verse
Growing up in church can be one of life's greatest blessings, but it can also become one of faith's most dangerous blind spots. We can spend decades surrounded by Christian truth, fluent in Bible stories, and deeply involved in church activities while never experiencing the supernatural transformation Jesus said was absolutely necessary. Today we're going to explore something Jesus told a religious expert named Nicodemus—a man who had everything right on paper but was missing the one thing that mattered most. This prayer matters because many of us need to stop and ask an uncomfortable question: Have we been living off someone else's faith while our own hearts remain unchanged?
Short Devotional
In John 3, Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus—a man who represents everything we think spiritual success looks like. He knew Scripture backward and forward. He held a respected position in religious leadership. He came from the right family, said the right prayers, and followed all the right rules. Yet Jesus looked at this spiritual giant and said something shocking: "You must be born again." Nicodemus was confused. How could someone who had done everything right from birth need to start over? Here's what makes this encounter so unsettling for those of us raised in Christian homes: Nicodemus proves that being born into the right religious environment doesn't automatically produce spiritual life. You can inherit a Bible, a church pew, and a solid theological education without ever inheriting the kingdom of God.
Jesus makes this painfully clear in today’s verse. Being born into a Christian family produces someone familiar with Christianity—nothing more, nothing less. Christian parents can pass down values, traditions, and biblical knowledge, but they cannot pass down the new birth. That must come directly from God's Spirit to each person individually. This means some of the most religiously educated, church-saturated people may have never experienced what Jesus said was essential for entering God's kingdom. The real question isn't whether we know about Jesus, but whether the Spirit of God has done something supernatural in us that our family, our church, or our own efforts could never accomplish.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
I come before You with an honest and maybe uncomfortable question: Have I been living off borrowed faith? I grew up hearing about You, singing songs about You, learning Bible verses about You.
I know the Christian language, the church routines, the right answers to give. But Jesus told Nicodemus that being born into religion isn't the same as being born of Your Spirit. That hits close to home.
Father, I confess that sometimes my confidence in my relationship with You comes more from my Christian résumé than from an actual encounter with Your transforming power. I've assumed that because I was raised right, baptized young, and involved in church, I automatically possess what only You can give.
I'm realizing that my parents' faith, my church's tradition, and my biblical knowledge are all flesh—they came from human sources and can only produce human results.
God, I need You to do what no person, no upbringing, no religious education can do. I need to be born of Your Spirit.
If I've been coasting on my spiritual inheritance without ever personally experiencing Your life-changing work, expose that truth to me now. Don't let me continue building my eternity on someone else's foundation.
Thank You that You receive people who realize they've been living on borrowed faith. Do in me what only You can do. Make me truly Yours, not because of where I was born or what I was taught, but because Your Spirit has created new life in me.
In Jesus' powerful name, Amen.
Journaling Prompts
When you think about your relationship with God, how much of it is built on your family's faith, your church's culture, or your theological education versus your own personal encounter with Him? Be brutally honest.
If someone asked you to describe the specific moment or season when you personally experienced God transforming your heart (not just when you learned about Him or started following Christian rules), what would you say? If you can't identify that moment, what does that reveal?
Looking at your life right now, what evidence exists that something beyond human effort—something only God's Spirit could do—has genuinely transformed you from the inside out?
The most freeing discovery we can make is realizing that we need what only God can give. If today's prayer and reflection stirred up questions about whether your faith is truly yours or just something you inherited, that's not a crisis—that's an invitation. God loves honest seekers who are willing to examine their hearts and ask for what they truly need. Keep bringing your questions to Him.
Until next time,
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May He make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you and give you peace.
God Bless!
PrayerForMe.org
If you or a loved one needs prayer, click below to share and receive a personalized devotion and prayer.
Sign Up To Our Newsletter
Loved today's devotional? Don't miss out on future inspiration! Join our growing community of believers by signing up for our newsletter. We'll deliver these uplifting messages straight to your inbox, helping you stay connected and grow in your faith.
P.S. It's free, and we promise to respect your inbox. You can unsubscribe anytime, but we hope you'll stick around for the blessings!