Daily Devotional For Monday, Marh

Hello Southside. I hope all of you weathered that storm that came through our area. For many people, they have lost everything including their lives or the lives of people they love. For all these people, my heart and prayers go out to them. I pray that churches will send Disaster Relief Teams in to assist, help and minister to all these people.

Today we come to a story in John 9, that for some, has caused them to question it. Look at John 9:1-3:

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. (2) And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’  (3) Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (NASB).

As he was going, however, Jesus saw a poor, afflicted man and stopped to help him. This reminds us that Jesus came for those who are broken, weak, and lost. And in John 5, Jesus will offer 5 more signs showing that He is the one and authentic Messiah. Each of these signs will demonstrate Jesus’ identity as the Messiah more than the previous one. Since Jesus heals  this man on the Sabbath, the religious leaders will have a meltdown. They loved their legalism more than they loved God. As far as I am concerned, legalism is an enemy we must defeat. Legalism tends to judge by one’s own opinion and the Word of God.

What is legalism? I love how pastor and author Chuck Swindoll defines it:

“Legalism is the establishment of standards carefully selected by people for the purpose of celebrating human achievement under the guise of pleasing God. Legalism is righteousness as defined by humans, who frequently cite God as the source of the standard. In reality, the standards come from culture, tradition, and most frequently the personal preferences of those who maintain positions of power or influence.

Legalism is based on lists (legalists love their lists!). If you do keep every item on the list of dos and don’ts, you’re deemed spiritually acceptable. But if you don’t follow the prescribed standard, you are judged unworthy of God’s favor and others’ approval. Naturally, legalists always think they know how God judges and they are more than willing to act on His behalf” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Bible Commentary, “John,” pp. 109-110).”

Legalism is wrong because it denies God’s grace and presumes to earn God’s favor through deeds. Legalism is enveloped by pride made by man made righteousness, which only creates hypocrisy and loathing of others who do not comply. Can you imagine being born blind – you never have the ability to see. Never! A person born blind can experience the warmth of sunshine on their face, but they can never see the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset. They can appreciate the aroma of roses, but they do not if they are red, white or yellow. They can smell the aroma of food, but they can never see how their food appears. All of these experiences are lost to them. And without the help of friends and today, a seeing eye dog, they have no way of knowing what obstacles are in their way when they walk.

In Jesus’ day it was common for people born with disabilities to sit in the same spot each day on a path that took people to the Temple. Unfortunately, Jesus’ disciples evaluated the man’s blindness based on wrong theology. In Jesus’ day, if you were born with a disability, people believed either your parents sinned or you sinned in the womb and this was God’s punishment. Jesus makes it clear this is not the case here. Look at John 9:4-12:

“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. (5) While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (6) When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, (7) and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back, seeing. (8) Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?” (9) Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” (10) So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” (11) He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” (12) They said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know” (NASB).

What I want you to notice is Jesus’ answer to His disciples in John 9:3, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (NASB). Jesus’ disciples  had been following Jesus for a while, but their question showed they still had a lot to learn. Jesus didn’t berate them. He simply said, “That’s not the point. This happened so people could see God at work in his life.” 

I hope you have space in your faith journey to experience the work of God. I hope you are watching for it in the lives of others. We learn how to come to church, and when to sit, stand, and sing along. But I’m not sure we always have room in our hearts for Him to act. Let’s ask God to do something more than just give us theological studies or entertaining worship services. 

Let’s look for the works of God in our lives and in the lives of people around us. Then, when we see them, let’s give Him the praise and honor He is due. God is always working in and through His people. Although we are weak, He leads us to serve Him and gives us strength to live for Him.

Questions To Consider

What issue in your life do you wish God would heal or remove and why?

1. Do you ever feel this issue is punishment from God for some sin you committed? Why or why not?
2. When we see someone do some kind of harm to another person and the person who did the harming has something bad happen to them, we sometimes say, “They had it coming to them,” as  if God was punishing them. Have you ever said or thought this? Why or why not?
3. It is interesting that in this story about a blind man who has only “seen” darkness his whole life, Jesus begins to talk about being the Light of the world. Why do you think Jesus does this? 
4. Initially some people thought this man was not the man Jesus healed, but someone else. Why do you think they thought this?

Scripture To Meditate On: John 11:4, 40, “But when Jesus heard this, He said, ‘This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it’ , , , (40) Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’” (NASB).

Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, Your works are mighty. Great is Your mercy and love toward me! Thank You for bestowing good things upon me, even while I am still learning Your ways. Lord, help me see You at work around me, even when I am blind to it. . I will give You all the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly