God's Holy Fire: 'A Great Have-To'

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

[Jesus said,] "So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'"
— John 3:7 NLT

Key Thought

We sometimes fail to realize that Nicodemus is the ultimate good guy - he is the best of the best. He is a religious leader and teacher. He has come to Jesus out of darkness to find light. He has noticed what Jesus has said and done and believes the only way Jesus could do those things is that he has come from God. But knowing and saying the right things about Jesus are not what makes a person a true follower of Jesus, a disciple, a real Christian. If Nicodemus, the best of the best, has to be "born again," then so do all the rest of us! Being born again is a great essential, a great "have to," that we all must experience. So where are you? Have you been "born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5)? Have you been born of God? Have you been born again?

Today's Prayer

O Father, thank you for my "new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade"! Thank you for the cleansing power and the new life that comes from the Holy Spirit. I praise you in Jesus' name. Amen.

The quotation in the prayer is from 1 Peter 1:3-4.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

15 Related Resources by Heartlight

Spurgeon AM Devo for Mar. 6th
Devo: Morning & Evening
"Regeneration is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to take heed that we really are "born again," for...."
Only the Holy Spirit
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"[Jesus said to Nicodemus,] "Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say,..."
Reborn
Illustration of John 3:5-7
e card of John 3:5-7 - Reborn - I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit.
Your Best Is Not Good Enough
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, What do you do when you recognize that your best isn't good enough to get you to God? That's the essential question that every..."
See All 15 Related Resources about John 3:7

Illustration

Illustration of John 3:7 NLT — [Jesus said,] "So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'All Creation Thanks You!' (Ps. 145:10-13)
"All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price...."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Let Him Go!' (Jn. 11:43-44)
"[After the stone was rolled away from Lazarus' tomb and Jesus thanked the Father for hearing him,] Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And the dead..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Darkness: Where Liars Live' (1 Jn. 1:6-7)
"So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth. But if we live in the light,....."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations