December13

Make a Daily Effort

And◦ it came··to··pass in those▵ days, that there went··out▵ a decree from▵ Caesar Augustus that all the world◦ should be enrolled. This enrolling was· first ·made◦ when Kurenius was· ·governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, everyone◦ to◦ his··own▵ city. And◦ Joseph also went··up from Galilee, out· ·of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to◦ the city of David, which◦ is called Bethlehem, because he was from◦ the house and family of David, to be enrolled with◦ Mary his betrothed wife, being great··with··child. And◦ it came··to··pass, that while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should bring··forth; and she brought··forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped· Him ·in· ·swaddling-clothes, and laid Him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

The signification of “conceiving and bearing,” [is] in the internal sense to be regenerated; for the man who is being regenerated is conceived and born anew, wherefore regeneration is called a new birth, but spiritual. Man is indeed born of his parents as a man, but he does not become a man until he is reborn of the Lord. (Arcana Coelestia 3860)

Hence “flesh wherein is the breath of lives” signifies a regenerated man, for in his Own there is the Lord’s life, which is the life of charity and faith. Every man is only “flesh;” but when the life of charity and faith is breathed into him by the Lord, the flesh is made alive, and becomes spiritual and celestial, and is called a “new creature” (Mark 16:15), from having been created anew. (Arcana Coelestia 780)

When man is being regenerated, he is then becoming altogether another, and is being made new; therefore also when he has been regenerated, he is called “born again,” and “created anew.” Then, although he has a similar face and a similar speech, yet his mind is not similar; his mind, when he is regenerate, is open toward heaven, and there dwells therein love to the Lord and charity toward his neighbor, together with faith. (Arcana Coelestia 3212.3)

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