Daily Devotion, November 3, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read John 9:24-34.

Woven within this story is a description of the similarities between physical and spiritual blindness. Another thread woven within is humans’ lack of truly listening. The irony woven within the whole story is that Jesus “saw” and “heard” the man who could not see when presumably others had become “blind” and had stopped “listening” to him. Then, after Jesus healed him, not only could the man see, physically, but his spiritual eyes and ears were opened too! After this man was healed of his blindness by Jesus, he simply told others what had been done for him. He even spoke with boldness to those who didn’t want to believe him or Jesus.

Rev. Anna Carter Florence says, “It is a story about time, before and after, then and now, years ago and today, always and then suddenly.” She goes on to say, “It is a story of conversion”.

In his lyrics of, “Amazing Grace” John Newton borrows the words from this scripture, “Was blind, but now I see.” As God’s amazing grace through Christ worked over the years in John Newton’s life, he realized how wrong he had been to be a slave trader, turned his life around and worked with Parliament to bring an end to the slave trade within the British empire.

There are several individuals and groups of people in this story from John 9: the man blind from birth who was healed and gives witness; the disciples who asked a question about “Who sinned”; the neighbors who asked, “wasn’t this the beggar?”; the others who answered the neighbors’ question; the Pharisees who asked the man to tell his story twice and even asked his parents; the parents who were afraid to confess Jesus as the Messiah; and Jesus who actually saw, healed, listened to the man, and gave him spiritual sight as well. Among these individuals and groups, with whom do you identify?

Personal Worship Option:

Loving and Gracious God, as individuals and collectively, we need your healing of our spiritual eyes today. Too often, we don’t see or hear the needs around us. Open our eyes and ears to see and hear.  Let us worship you and say with confidence as the man born blind, “Lord, I believe.”  Help us to tell others about your healing grace in our lives. Amen.