Now I see
Aug 21, 2014 2809
by Tom Durst
24 Therefore, they called a second time for the man who had been born blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know this man is a sinner.” 25 The man answered, “I don’t know whether he’s a sinner. Here’s what I do know: I was blind and now I see.” – John 9:24-25 Common English Bible (CEB)
The religious leaders were always wanting to argue and cavil about everything that Jesus taught and did. They were trying to badger the man who was born blind who had been healed by Jesus. I find it interesting that he didn’t allow himself to become involved in “explaining” nor did he try to contradict them. He merely testified of what he did know, which was that he had been blind and now he could see.
All of us are somewhat like that blind man for we are born into this world wounded, blind and in need of healing (see Psalm 51:5). At various points in our life the Holy Spirit speaks to us and our blindness is healed at some level and we can’t understand nor explain the “how” of this nor should we (see John 3:8). We can simply say with the blind man “Here’s what I do know: I was blind and now I see.”
If we try to become too analytical about the way God works in our life to heal our blindness we may interfere with the process. When people see some changes in us it is well to bear testimony to the goodness of God and glorify Him but we need to be cautious about getting drawn into discussions about the “whys and wherefores” of how God works, especially with folks who may have little spiritual discernment (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).
I’ve been very careful about what I say to those who likely will not understand. Most of the time I can’t really speak plainly about what I experience so I just seek to find something to say that will be uplifting and feel that setting a good example is the most effective way that I can ever teach anyway (see Matthew 5:16). If our life isn’t in harmony with our faith our words will be meaningless. For that reason, as simplistic as it no doubt sounds, I keep focusing on knowing God experientially, having something more than merely a head full of good information.
The world is flooded with information from all directions but as believers in the living Christ we have LIFE to offer. Let’s focus on cultivating the divine life within so that we have something to give that will really make a difference.
Tom Durst. Used with permission from the Union With God Devotional Forum.
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