Helping the blind and crippled

Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.

Scripture: John 9:1-4 (The Message) Walking down the street Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines.”

We have become a society of blame and not one of taking responsibility. When we play the blame game, we are abdicating the consequences for our actions. The blame game is an escapist attitude. “If my ex weren’t such a jerk, I wouldn’t be in this mess.” What God wants us to do is look ourselves squarely in the mirror and be truthful with ourselves. “What is my part in this scene?” That attitude forces us to learn from our mistakes, which is what God wants us to do. That is what freedom means as a Christian.

Now, the disciples were simply asking a question that they had been taught while growing up in the Jewish culture. The Jews believed that one’s sins caused physical and mental handicaps. That means that being blind or crippled was because of one’s sins – or one’s parents. So looking at this man, the disciples naturally wanted to know whose fault it was. Jesus quickly turned the tables on them, telling them there is “no cause-effect here.” Jesus tells them to stop looking to lay the blame on someone.

Instead, Jesus wants them to see how God can be at work in the blind man’s life. Jesus wants the disciples to know that there is still work to be done with this man and not to give up on him. Jesus was telling them that there are things they could do for this man to bring salvation to his life. He wants his disciples to “energetically” be at work for the Father, showing the blind man who God is. In the next verse, Jesus reminds the disciples that his light needs to be shined on this man’s life.

What is our part in shining Jesus’ light on the world? It may be to shine his light on the spiritually blind and cripples of this world, or it may be helping the physically blind and cripples that are around us. If our gift is teaching or discipling, maybe it is studying the Bible and sharing God’s love with someone who needs it? If our gift is hospitality or service, perhaps we can drive a blind person to the supermarket once a week or maybe take them to church on Sundays. Look around you. There may be someone God wants to shine his light on this week.

How does this apply to my life?

Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to see those you want me to share your love with today. Help me not to be blinded by my own blindness. Amen

Doug Mead
Parenting Solo

Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Vol. 3, No. 165

This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/december.asp?version=51