Sight to the Blind

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. (Matt.20:29-34 ESV)

Isn't it interesting that these men who were physically blind, could still see the truth?  They recognized, as Jesus was passing by, that this was the Son of David, the Messiah.  There were so very many others who, though seeing, were blind to Jesus' identity and though hearing, were deaf to his message.  In the Matthew passage we are told that Jesus took pity on their physical blindness and healed them, restoring their sight. The passage ends with the statement that the men followed Jesus. it appears that, based on their recognition and acknowledgement of Jesus as Messiah, they had already begun to follow Jesus.


We, as believers, had to take that first step from blindness to sight. We had to recognize, see, Jesus for who he truly is - our savior, our deliverer. Once our eyes were opened to the truth, the decision was made to follow. Our blindness had been healed. I wonder, is it possible for someone to see Jesus as he really is, and choose to walk away, to remain in darkness? How sad to think that one could see the great light of the world and turn away! Great hardness of heart, sin, surely takes its toll. Jesus lovingly gives us a choice. He never forces us; but how compelling is that love and forgiveness!


Jesus asks questions of us just as he did those in the Gospel accounts. To his disciples - and us - he asks, "Who do you say that I am?" To the lame man waiting years by the pool, he asks, "Do you want to be healed?" The man had waited 38 years for his healing! There are those who know the agony of years of suffering, of waiting to be healed. The answer to that question seems obvious. But, is it? Do we understand the depth of that question - what new life in Jesus is like? Are we ready to receive what Jesus is offering?


Who do we say that Jesus is? Who is he to us, right now? Are we blind, deaf or lame - unable to see Truth, hear Truth or walk in the path of Truth? Or are we responding, even in our blindness to Jesus' voice calling us to see him, hear and respond to his word and follow him?

[Jesus said,] “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” [The blind man replied,] “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:39; 9:25 (NLT)

Corrections and Coaches

My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.  (Hebrews 12:5-6 The Message)

How do we recognize God's corrections?  Sometimes for me, it's immediate and other times I need the advantage of hindsight to recognize God's re-direction or guidance.  The fruit of his discipline and correction, according to Hebrews, is "righteousness to those who have been trained by it."  Consider the rendering of Heb. 12: 9-11 by The Message:  While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.  

So many times words like "training", "endurance", "running the race" are used to describe our Christian journey.  Sports analogies don't always work for me - not being particularly athletically inclined. But a recent conversation with a friend about her son has stayed with me and is, I think, a great "parable" for this passage. My friend's son is a terrific soccer player; he loves the game, the competition, the challenge. It appears he's also very team-minded and a good little sportsman. She mentioned how much he values a coach who is willing to fuss at them or yell at them if he needs to. Being perhaps a little too tenderhearted, I question this approach and wonder why coaches can't be warm, fuzzy, gentle and soft-spoken. However, my young friend knows that his coach is helping them dig deep, push hard and achieve more than they may have thought they could. This young soccer player is growing in his sport, being challenged and maturing as an athlete - becoming well-trained so that he can excel in the sport he loves. And isn't that the point of the scripture passage above? God, our Father, lovingly corrects and guides us - redirects us when we've stepped off the path of righteousness. He's maturing us in our faith, giving us the skills we need to run this race. And not just run the race, but finish the race well.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:12-14 ESV)  Or as The Messsage puts it:  So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity.

As my friend's son knows well, we're in this together.  We have a loving Father that corrects us when we need it, "coaches us" through this race and generously, lovingly, purposefully, and graciously empowers us to persevere.  And we have our community of faith - our "team" - to hold us accountable, support us, pray with and for us, and walk beside us as brothers and sisters of Christ.  

Overcome

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  John 16:33


In a recent conversation with someone very near and dear to me, the statement was made that sometimes it seems like the darkness is winning.  What does it look like to live through dark days in the truth of Jesus' words above?  The key word in that last sentence is through.  We get through it - we're not undone, not defeated when we hold on to Jesus.  No, correct that -- Jesus is holding on to us.  Even when we're not aware of it, he's there and he never lets us go.  No one or nothing can snatch us from his hand.  Too often - way too often - I act as if it's my job to grab hold of Jesus when he's already there holding me up, strengthening me and enabling me to carry on.


We may suffer "battle fatigue" as we go through dark, difficult times.  We may feel battered by the storms. But Jesus is so near to us, aware of our wounds from the battle, tending to us, ministering to us, and lifting our heavy burdens.  I'm reminded of the old hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  You can find the lyrics here but remind yourself of some of the truths within this hymn:  
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?  Precious Savior, still our refuge - take it to the Lord in prayer.

Blessed Savior, thou hast promised thou wilt all our burdens bear; may we ever, Lord be bringing all to thee in earnest prayer.

My friends, the reality of who Jesus is, how he loves us, what he does for us and how near and present he is to us is a reality that I pray you will come to see and know more and more.  Pray for the eyes of your heart to be opened.  Ask him to make his love real to you, to make his presence known to you.  Where you have doubts, ask Jesus.  I can tell you from my own experiences, it's a prayer he loves to answer.  He has overcome the world.  The darkness cannot, has not and will not overcome the Light of the world - our Lord Jesus.

Our Father

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Grace.  Mercy.  Help.  It's too bad we can't see in the natural what's going on in the spiritual when we pray.  If we could actually see the throne of grace as we drew nearer, how our hearts would be changed!  In the presence of the glory and majesty of God our Father, in his throne room, we can stand with boldness and confidence and courage.  We can stand in the knowledge that we are welcomed, embraced and loved.  Our Abba is waiting lovingly for us to draw near.  God, the Creator of the universe, is our Abba - our Papa; we are children of the living God who, like all loving fathers, deeply desires for his children to spend time with him.  He wants to hear what's on our hearts, our worries and fears, our problems, the thing we've done wrong and the help we need to keep from further wrongs. Furthermore, in Hebrews we are told of the awesome gift we have through Jesus: Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)

I am blessed to have very dear friends who are mighty prayer warriors.  I can recall many times when I've called asking for prayer and they'd already been interceding.  The Holy Spirit had whispered to their hearts that a friend was in need; my faithful sisters had been praying.  That's the gift we have in and through Jesus.  Jesus sees clearly, knows all things, is working his purposes and plans in our life and is interceding in and with his holy, omniscient, perfect love.


This is the throne of grace to which we draw near.  We find mercy.  We experience God's grace.  We receive his help in our time of need.  Again and again.  God's mercies are new every morning; great is his faithfulness!  Great is his love!  We can be bold and confident as we approach God's throne because he is so loving.  He IS love - pure, perfect, holy love.  There is no fear in the presence of God's love, no condemnation, no shame.  Even - especially - in our sinfulness, we can stand in the presence of LOVE and find mercy, forgiveness, healing and grace.


Yesterday was Father's Day.  we celebrated and remembered the fathers or father-figures in our life.  In thinking about the love of our earthly fathers, let's look to our heavenly Father, whose love knows no bounds, is perfect, without sin or favoritism, and is eternal. Our loving earthly fathers are (were) flawed but we can allow their love to point to the One who is perfect. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)


Bring your worries, cares, anxieties, sins, questions - your deepest heart's desires - and go boldly into the presence of your Abba. Sit with him, open your heart. He hears, he loves, he is merciful and good.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Blinded by the Light

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.  (Acts 9:3-9 ESV)


Saul, on the road to Damascus, was struck blind by the brightness of the light of the glory and presence of Jesus.  "Who are you, Lord?", he asked.  Isn't it interesting that his question was who are you instead of what is this?  He sensed the presence - life - not an inanimate thing.  This light was so full of life that somehow, Saul in his blindness KNEW.  And that presence commanded respect.  "Who are you Lord?"  He hadn't yet realized that he was in the presence of the LORD.  


Remember Paul's list of credentials?  If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.  (Philippians 3:5-6 ESV)  Here was a well-taught, respected, faithful Jewish man zealously fighting what he thought was God's battle only to be confronted by the very God he thought he was obeying.  When he thought he was fighting for and guarding the truth, he discovered he had, all along, been blind to Truth.  What a shock!


The reality of sin is so vividly described in this passage.  Do we realize our sins are not only against ourselves or our fellow man, but against God?  Do we really grasp that?  Saul persecuted the new Christians.  Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus in great glory and asks why Saul is persecuting him.  He asks us the same question.  Our sin is not a private matter; it is not a secret.  The Light of the world cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and sin cannot hide from the light of Christ.


There's another part of Saul's story worth noting.  In Acts 9:1, Saul is described as "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord."  In that horrid state, he meets Jesus.  There is no condemnation, only the question "Why?" followed by instructions for Saul to go to the city and wait.  Saul's transformation is beginning.  The man, Paul, who is to take the Good News to the Gentiles, and become the author of so much of our New Testament, is being birthed from this violent, threatening, murderous persecutor, Saul.  The transformation begins in the light of Jesus - the light that confronted Saul's darkness and blindness and brought true vision, healing and new life.  Saul became Paul - a man zealous for the Gospel of Jesus, a man who knew the saving power of his Lord, a man whose eyes were opened to the truth by the One who IS Truth.

More Lessons from King Hezekiah

At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. (Isaiah 39:1-2)


Hezekiah opened up for display all his wealth and treasures to the men from Babylon.  They came from another country bringing letters and a present - traveling all that distance just to pay Hezekiah a visit.  Who wouldn't be flattered?  Our enemy rarely shows himself in his true colors - pure evil.  Why or how would we ever be drawn in if that were the case?  Remember these words:  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a  roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  (1Peter 5:8)  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)  


We are often seduced through our pride.  Once we're vulnerable, exposed, we give our enemy a glimpse into the treasures he can plunder.  As was true for Hezekiah, all we have and are, are gifts from God (2 Chronicles 29:14).  In Hezekiah's prideful display, his sin was revealed and Isaiah prophesies that the very things he bragged about would be taken away during the reign of his son.  How amazing that Hezekiah's only response seems to be that he won't have to worry about it since these events would happen after his death and would not be his problem to deal with (see Isaiah 39:8).  The pride and self-centeredness is amazing!  Hezekiah has gone from (finally) falling on his knees before his God - the God of his people - in humility and wearing sackcloth to this boastful, arrogant man caught up in the enemy's flattery.  Prior to this event, God had healed the king of a condition that was fatal, granting him 15 more years of life.  Where is the thankfulness?  The gratitude?

We look at these stories and wonder.  If we, like Hezekiah, had been snatched from death's door, surely we'd behave differently!  We thank we'd never be as stiff-necked and rebellious as the Israelites who saw the incredible miracles of God as he delivered them from Egyptian oppression.  I challenge you (and myself!) to spend some time reflecting on the many blessings of God:  a home to live in, loving friends and family, the many and expensive "toys" and gadgets at close hand, our health, our jobs, etc., etc.  What is our attitude towards these things?  Are we, like Hezekiah, proud of ourselves for the ability to acquire all we have?  Are we seeking the praise and attention from those around us for all our accomplishments?  Are we holding out our hands for more or are we lifting our hands in praise and thanksgiving to the God who has poured out the blessings of our health, our intelligence, our abilities?  We can learn a lot from the story of Hezekiah.  God was, and will always be, faithful, loving, healing, just and merciful.  And God is also a jealous God:  my glory I will not give to another (Is. 48:11).

In closing, consider the words in Isaiah 48:17:  Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17) 

Lord, you have given us so much, so many gifts.  The greatest gift of all is your love.  Forgive our pride, our turning a blind eye to your many blessings.  Forgive our turning away from your love and turning a deaf ear to your voice calling out to us.  Create is us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

When God Delays

Isaiah 36 and 37 relate the story of King Hezekiah and the people of Judah who are being threatened and invaded by the Assyrian army.  The attackers are mocking God, making false promises to the people and generally striking fear in every heart.  Garments are torn in distress, sackcloth is donned - the king and his people are in dire straits.  Hezekiah sends his assistants to the prophet Isaiah asking him to pray on their behalf:  And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the LORD your God  [emphasis mine] will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”  (Isaiah 37:2-4)  


God hears and answers Isaiah's prayer:  Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land. (Isaiah 37:7)  This is only a temporary reprieve, the threats and mockery continue.  This time, however, Hezekiah himself goes to God in prayer.  And this time, he is seeking the LORD our God.  Isaiah delivers the word of the Lord:  Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him. . . . (Is. 37:21) This time there is not just a reprieve, but victory.  Was Hezekiah not trusting in God the first time?  Did he believe Isaiah's faith was somehow "better" than his own?  God waited for Hezekiah to come on his own, to seek the Lord, to cry out from his his heart on behalf of his people.


Granted, this is an ancient event but the reactions and tendencies of Hezekiah are all too relevant.  When have we ever relied on someone else's faith instead of going to God ourselves?  God only asks that we come to him just as we are:  weak faith, doubts . . . whatever.  Just come to him, seek his face, pour out our fears, our prayers, and leave it in his loving hands.  As in Hezekiah's story, God doesn't ignore others praying on our behalf or in our stead; but perhaps the fullness of his answer is waiting for our realization that God wants us to trust him and come to him in whatever state or condition we find ourselves.  We don't have to meet a certain standard before we can come before our heavenly Father.  Because of Jesus, we can come boldly before the throne of grace; not because of our goodness, worth or righteousness but because of Jesus'.  GRACE.


We don't have to seek out a "holier" friend to pray for us.  We have a friend who is already doing just that.  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)  Out of the deep desire of our loving Father that we enter into relationship with him, God may allow our circumstances to be the very thing that finally brings us to come to him in prayer and humility.  Remember the story of Lazarus?  Upon hearing of the illness and death of his friend, Jesus delayed in going to Bethany because of his love for this dear family.  (John 11)  He knew the greater purpose to be accomplished, the more glorious demonstration of God's love.  So, he waited.  


Only God knows how Lazarus' sisters were being prepared in their hearts to receive this love - how their spiritual eyes were readied to view the truth behind the miracle they witnessed.  Nothing is wasted in God's kingdom.  He is faithful to complete the work he has begun in us.  When he delays, when he answers our prayers in part, don't lose heart.  Know that God's ways are perfect and beyond what we can see, know or understand.  Lean on him with all your heart, all your faith, no matter how "weak" you perceive it it be. It is enough.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)