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Take It to the Lord
'...so the power of God could be seen in him.' John 9:3 NLT
When Jesus encountered a blind man, His disciples immediately began to discuss the man’s condition. They asked, ‘Was this man’s blindness the result of his own sins, or the sins of his parents?’ Jesus answered, ‘This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.’
Notice four things:
(1) The disciples were eager to attribute the man’s problem to sin. Satan will try to convince you that, because of your sin, you’re disqualified from God’s grace. You’re not! ‘For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”’ (Romans 9:15 ESV)
(2) When Jesus healed him, the neighbours wanted to debate, not celebrate. They started asking, ‘“…Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said he was… others said, “No…”’ (John 9:8–9 NLT)
(3) His healing failed the ‘religiosity test’ because the Pharisees said, “…This man Jesus is not from God for He is working on the Sabbath…”’ (John 9:16 NLT)
(4) Even the man’s parents weren't free to praise God, because ‘…anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.’ (John 9:22 NLT) To the neighbours he was a misfit, to church leaders a topic of debate, to his parents a social stigma, so they ‘…threw him out.’ (John 9:34 NIV) End of story? Thank God—no! ‘Jesus...found him... and said, “...I have come into this world, so that the blind will see...”’ (John 9:35, 39 NIV)
So instead of rehashing your problem and listening to other people’s opinions, take it to the Lord in prayer. When you share it with others, the best you’ll get is sympathy, but when you share it with Jesus you’ll get a solution.
written by Bob Gass
'...so the power of God could be seen in him.' John 9:3 NLT
When Jesus encountered a blind man, His disciples immediately began to discuss the man’s condition. They asked, ‘Was this man’s blindness the result of his own sins, or the sins of his parents?’ Jesus answered, ‘This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.’
Notice four things:
(1) The disciples were eager to attribute the man’s problem to sin. Satan will try to convince you that, because of your sin, you’re disqualified from God’s grace. You’re not! ‘For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”’ (Romans 9:15 ESV)
(2) When Jesus healed him, the neighbours wanted to debate, not celebrate. They started asking, ‘“…Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said he was… others said, “No…”’ (John 9:8–9 NLT)
(3) His healing failed the ‘religiosity test’ because the Pharisees said, “…This man Jesus is not from God for He is working on the Sabbath…”’ (John 9:16 NLT)
(4) Even the man’s parents weren't free to praise God, because ‘…anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.’ (John 9:22 NLT) To the neighbours he was a misfit, to church leaders a topic of debate, to his parents a social stigma, so they ‘…threw him out.’ (John 9:34 NIV) End of story? Thank God—no! ‘Jesus...found him... and said, “...I have come into this world, so that the blind will see...”’ (John 9:35, 39 NIV)
So instead of rehashing your problem and listening to other people’s opinions, take it to the Lord in prayer. When you share it with others, the best you’ll get is sympathy, but when you share it with Jesus you’ll get a solution.
written by Bob Gass
