John
9: 1-3 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth His disciples asked him,
"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned,"
said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed
in him.
Nobody
will ever outgrow Scriptures. I have read John 9 countless times. Yet today was
different. First of all, the whole chapter gave me goose bumps and teary eyes. But
the things that struck me was the fact that this man or his parents have done
nothing wrong. (This does not mean they were sinless) It was decided since he was in the womb to be
born blind because God had a plan that He shared with no one. His plan was to
use this man years down the road to open his eyes and redeem his soul. He also wanted
to share with those willing to believe, that He was indeed the son of God. He also wanted to share with his disciples,
use it as a stumbling block to the Jews who were dead set against His teachings
and also share with us today so that we might be comforted and learn to trust
His plans for us. Without knowing what God was doing in the background, this
man was called to live out a lifelong blindness as a beggar, with no hope.
But,
imagine being this man’s parents to find out your beautiful baby boy is born
blind. The pain this must have caused them and all the unanswered questions
they must have had. There is no doubt since the Jews regarded this as the effect
of sin, that they had no compassion for the man and perhaps people were
pointing fingers at the parents too. This man’s life has been affected
completely since he grew up with his blindness well through adulthood.
I
guess the reason I had teary eyes and goose bumps was the display of God’s
sovereignty, the way He design things for us, through us and in spite of us. We
are wrong to think God NEEDS us to receive glory because if we do not do it
because of our love for Him and gratefulness for who He is, then the stones
will cry out. (Luke 19:40)
Sometimes
we cannot explain why life is what it is. Our endless trials and grievous calamities
have purposes we have no way of knowing the impact and the depth unless we keep
going on, in faith and steadfastness. We can find strength to go because we
know He is Sovereign, He is a just God, His goodness is beyond measure and His
compassion limitless. In His appointed time, He will bring it all together for
us.
So, would you please find the strength in Him
to hang in there even when nothing makes sense to you? In Him there is healing
and there is hope.
Prayer:
Holy, Lord God Almighty, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. We
praise you and worship you. We give you thanks for who you are. You are worthy
to receive Glory and honor. Great are the works of your hands, Hosanah in the
highest. Lord I pray that you would bring relief to the heart of those who are in
pain. I pray that you would put your healing touch on them, and give them the
patience needed to go through it all. Please give them such confidence in you
that they would not be able to deny your presence. May your grace fall upon
them. May you guide their actions, protect them from the evil one who is able
to use their sorrow against them and against you. Through the darkness that surrounds
them right now, may you become their light and allow them to see you through
their despair. Most of all my Lord may their sorrow be used for your glory. To
you be the glory my redeemer and I love you with all that I am, so please hear
my plea.
