Secret Interview

Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation. He was highly educated, and possessed talents of no ordinary character, and he was an honored member of the national council. With others, he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus….

He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking Him openly…. He waited until the city was hushed in slumber, and then sought Him….

“Rabbi,” he said, “we know that thou art a teacher come from God.” … His words were designed to express and to invite confidence; but they really expressed unbelief. He did not acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, but only a teacher sent from God….

Jesus bent His eyes upon the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw before Him a seeker after truth…. He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet kindly, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, margin)….

Nicodemus had heard the preaching of John the Baptist concerning repentance and baptism…. Yet the heart-searching message of the Baptist had failed to work in him conviction of sin. He was a strict Pharisee, and prided himself on his good works. He was widely esteemed for his benevolence and his liberality in sustaining the temple service, and he felt secure of the favor of God. He was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for him to see in his present state….

By virtue of his birth as an Israelite he regarded himself as sure of a place in the kingdom of God. He felt that he needed no change. Hence his surprise at the Saviour’s words. He was irritated by their close application to himself. The pride of the Pharisee was struggling against the honest desire of the seeker after truth.20Ibid., 167-171.
Conflict and Courage p. 291
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a situation that can only cause trouble inside and outside that church. J
—-Please be praying for my friend Charlie W. He is having health issues. Dan
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. Buck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

When my grandfather, Edwin Harmon, was a young boy in the late 1800’s, he and a few friends had some rare free time. As they were lounging on the grass, they became bored and began looking for something to do. One began talking about a farmer in the area that nearly starved his animals. He was a very selfish and penurious man, who could afford feed for them but because of his greediness gave them just enough to keep them alive. The animals were dull and lifeless and very pitiful. The boys’ hearts went out to those poor creatures and the more they talked about that farmer the angrier they got. Finally they decided that this man must be taught a lesson, but what could they do? Gradually, a plan began to form in their minds.

That night, by the light of the full moon, they crept silently to the man’s barnyard. There stood the farmer’s horse with his head down dejectedly. My grandfather crept over to her and spoke kindly to her while he began rubbing her sides. After he was sure that she was used to his kind touch, he took some whitewash and carefully painted every one of that poor animal’s bones. They were easy to find because they stuck out like a skeleton. When he was finished, he stepped back to look at his work. That half-starved animal looked like a horse’s skeleton standing there in the moonlight.

When the farmer arose before daylight to do his morning chores, he let out a yell of fright. There stood the skeleton of his horse glowing in the moonlight. When he recovered enough to investigate, his fright turned to anger; but as he washed the whitewash off his skinny animal, he began to think of the message he had just been given. He had to admit that he had been abusing his animals. From that time, he started giving them the food they needed. My grandfather and his friends noticed the change in those animals and felt rewarded for their mischievous deed of mercy.

Sometimes it takes something startling to wake us up to what we are doing. Sometimes unpleasant circumstances come into our lives that help us to realize what is really important. We so easily get into a routine in life, day by day going through the same cycle with scarcely a thought heavenward.

We feel like we are on the right path, think all is well. There is One, however, Who sees that all is not well with our life. Our pitying Saviour loves us too much to allow us to stay in our unthinking condition. He must get our attention. He allows trials and troubles to shake us up a little. Then He says to us, “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Rev 3:14-18

The True Witness’ message to the Laodiceans is His message to us. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Vs. 19, 20

May we take stock of our lives giving diligence to make our calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10) May we open the door of our heart and let our Dear Saviour enter therein. May we allow Him to change us into His Image is my prayer.

Rose