Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

23 October 2024

Reading From John 9:1-10:21

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”

“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”

“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.

Then Jesus told him, “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.”

Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.”

 –John 9:35-41

     This passage reminded me of what Jesus said about it not being the healthy needing a doctor, but the sick.  In this interaction, He speaks of those who think they can see, but are actually spiritually blind.  As Jesus revealed through the Apostle Paul, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  This means that even those who perceive themselves to be healthy are actually spiritual sick, even dead without His life-giving power.  Spiritual blindness is caused by self-righteousness and pride.

     In a similar way, all of us are spiritually blind without yielding to the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him.  Therefore, we cannot reach God with our own devices and beliefs.  We must come to Him His way.  Unfortunately, those who cannot or choose not to see their spiritual need for God will not come to Him because they don’t believe they need Him.  We all need the Lord, whether we realize it or not.  He has chosen you, now it is up to you to choose Him.

“Lord, thank You for revealing to us through the pages of Scripture, the path to abundant and eternal life.  Open our eyes to how much we need You.  Bring us to a point where we trust enough to depend upon You and Your provision in our lives.  Without You, we would not even have the breath in our lungs.  You are the Giver and Sustainer of all life.  We praise and glorify Your holy Name for only You are worthy to be worshipped and exalted.  Be magnified in us and through us.  Bring light to those stumbling in spiritual darkness.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.”

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised

–Luke 4:18