Lilly: Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Dodger! Happy birthday to you!
Dodger: Thanks Lilly. Oh, hi there! I'm glad you could make it to my birthday party! I've had a good one so far. I wish I could give you some cake, but I guess that this will have to do.
Any way, we've been celebrating for quite a while now.
Lilly: But that's because any birthday is a big deal. After all Dodger, you wouldn't be here if you didn't have one!
Dodger: Well actually, I have two. And the other one is even better than this one.
Lilly: What? Dodger, is that a birthday joke?
Dodger: No, I'm serious. You see, I was born on August 5th, 2000, but I've also been born again!
Lilly: What does that mean?
Dodger: Well, it traces back to the Bible.
Lilly: Somehow I saw that coming.
Dodger: We do talk about the Bible a lot. Anyway, what I'm talking about is in two books, the gospel of John and the book of 2 Corinthians. First let's look at John chapter three. In it, Jesus is talking to a man named Nicodemus (there's a name I don't want) and telling him something that Nicodemus doesn't quite understand. It's in verses 3-4. "Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (NKJV) But what Jesus was telling Nicodemus was not that one must be physically born again. He was telling him that one must be spiritually born again!
Lilly: Would you explain that further?
Dodger: Think of it this way. What was your life like before you knew Jesus? How did you act? Did you change when you met Him? Hasn't your life been different ever since?
Lilly: Yes. My life has changed a lot. In fact I met an old acquaintance yesterday and after talking for a while he told me that I was like a brand new person!
Dodger: And that ties into 2 Corinthians 5:17. Look what it says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (NKJV) This verse is saying that when you know Jesus, everything that is old leaves and is replaced with the new! So you get a new life, and a new heart, and a new kind of love, and all sorts of other new! But you also become born again. So you get a new birthday too!
Lilly: So when's your other birthday?
Dodger: Mine's on December 19th, 2004. You know what's interesting though? I don't celebrate that birthday as much, although it's even more important than my physical birthday.
Lilly: Well this year we're going to celebrate it like never before.
Dodger: I think that's a good idea.
Lilly: It's pretty cool to know that God gives us all the new things we need to live His way, instead of us having to get them. God is pretty generous, isn't He Dodger?
Dodger: He most certainly is. His Son Jesus was the best gift I ever received, and He didn't even make me wait until my birthday to get it! Speaking of which, what did you get me for my birthday, Lilly? Can I unwrap it now?
Lilly: Sure. Here you go, Dodger.
Lilly: Happy birthday, Dodger.
Dodger: Thanks Lilly. Wow, look at the time. I guess we better get going. Thanks again for coming to my party! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Ardievas!
Dodger: Thanks Lilly. Oh, hi there! I'm glad you could make it to my birthday party! I've had a good one so far. I wish I could give you some cake, but I guess that this will have to do.
Lilly: But that's because any birthday is a big deal. After all Dodger, you wouldn't be here if you didn't have one!
Dodger: Well actually, I have two. And the other one is even better than this one.
Lilly: What? Dodger, is that a birthday joke?
Dodger: No, I'm serious. You see, I was born on August 5th, 2000, but I've also been born again!
Lilly: What does that mean?
Dodger: Well, it traces back to the Bible.
Lilly: Somehow I saw that coming.
Dodger: We do talk about the Bible a lot. Anyway, what I'm talking about is in two books, the gospel of John and the book of 2 Corinthians. First let's look at John chapter three. In it, Jesus is talking to a man named Nicodemus (there's a name I don't want) and telling him something that Nicodemus doesn't quite understand. It's in verses 3-4. "Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (NKJV) But what Jesus was telling Nicodemus was not that one must be physically born again. He was telling him that one must be spiritually born again!
Lilly: Would you explain that further?
Dodger: Think of it this way. What was your life like before you knew Jesus? How did you act? Did you change when you met Him? Hasn't your life been different ever since?
Lilly: Yes. My life has changed a lot. In fact I met an old acquaintance yesterday and after talking for a while he told me that I was like a brand new person!
Dodger: And that ties into 2 Corinthians 5:17. Look what it says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (NKJV) This verse is saying that when you know Jesus, everything that is old leaves and is replaced with the new! So you get a new life, and a new heart, and a new kind of love, and all sorts of other new! But you also become born again. So you get a new birthday too!
Lilly: So when's your other birthday?
Dodger: Mine's on December 19th, 2004. You know what's interesting though? I don't celebrate that birthday as much, although it's even more important than my physical birthday.
Lilly: Well this year we're going to celebrate it like never before.
Dodger: I think that's a good idea.
Lilly: It's pretty cool to know that God gives us all the new things we need to live His way, instead of us having to get them. God is pretty generous, isn't He Dodger?
Dodger: He most certainly is. His Son Jesus was the best gift I ever received, and He didn't even make me wait until my birthday to get it! Speaking of which, what did you get me for my birthday, Lilly? Can I unwrap it now?
Lilly: Sure. Here you go, Dodger.
Dodger: Lilly! This is amazing. Can I show our friend?
Lilly: Of course! Go ahead!
Dodger: Look at this!
Dodger: Thanks Lilly. Wow, look at the time. I guess we better get going. Thanks again for coming to my party! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Ardievas!
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