Saturday, April 21- by Pamela

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 1-4

Today's scripture focus is John 9:1-12

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

 ¹ As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”   ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
 ⁶ Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,”he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
 ⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was.
   Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
   But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
 ¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.
 ¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
 ¹² “Where is this man?” they asked him.
   “I don’t know,” he said.

Three things stood out from today's passage:

1. Trouble in our lives is not punishment for sin.

The disciples (and I think we often do to a point too!) wondered if experiencing trouble was a punishment for sin. The book of Job clearly illustrates this link as Job's friends repeatedly ask Job to repent because they firmly believed that there must be a reason for his misfortune. It's hard to understand why bad things happen to "good" people-miscarriage, divorce, sickness, etc. Our human brain likes to pair consequence with reaction and often there is a huge discrepancy between the two.

I love that Jesus says "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." How often has a time of despair helped someone draw closer to God and be an example to them in a way that would have been impossible without the tragedy. I think about the story of Candace Derksen and what an impact that the Derksen family has been able to have because of their choices in the midst of Candace's story. When we experience trouble, it is not the result of our sin but it is an opportunity for God to remind us to lean on him.

2. Likewise, good things in our life is not a reward.

We are sinners and don't deserve anything. Yet, while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We didn't deserve the gift of salvation-we didn't even really ask for it, even though we needed it- and God gave it to us anyway. It is by faith and not the result of works (Ephesians 2:8-9) and just because we are followers of Christ, it does not mean that we will be rewarded with good things.

The blind beggar man does not ask for his eye sight from Jesus but he has faith to obey Jesus' words to go and wash in the pool and his faith heals. Nothing the man did or said could have given him the gift of sight. It was only by the grace of God and his gift of sight which allowed him to work in the man's life and share Jesus with others. His story, shared to everyone who asked, was able to touch the lives of everyone who heard it and believed.

3. We are quick to forget and move on when things are good.

This blind man had been made to see and when people asked where was the man who had healed him, he responded: “I don’t know”. We can lean on God and his promises during the tough times. We can even understand and in our hearts believe that all good things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28) but it is so easy to lose sight of God when it's over. When the storm has passed, when the crisis is averted, when the problem is solved it is easy to forget the master behind the plan and say "I don't know" when the good times come.

Sometimes it's helpful to be reminded that good and bad things in our life are not reactions to our choices but to the plan and design that God has for our lives. We can't see into the future, we can't see how this is all going to work out, and we can't know what path we need to be on to make God's plan happen. We just need to have faith:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.                                   Hebrews 11:1

God has been working on me and reminding me about waiting on His timing and learning about being patient. Yesterday I received an answer to a prayer that was weighing heavy on my heart. I know above all things that I am unworthy of so many of the blessings God has bestowed on me. I also know that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17) and that even though I do not deserve it, God chooses to bless me with more than I could ever imagine.

Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 9:13-34

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Ps 6/8-10/14/16/19/21