Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Good morning sunshine

Sunday, March 2, 2008

John 9:1-7
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" - which means Sent.

So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

Ephesians 5:8-11
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them.

Back in the old days the serpent told Eve: "God knows that when you eat of (the tree of knowledge of good and evil) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God" (Gen 3:5). Eve's eyes were already open, but she ate anyway and saw things she wished she hadn't and wanted to close them again. But it was too late.

Adam ate too, and saw with the same awful clarity, and was afraid. God spoke to them in sadness, describing their future, "For dust you are, and to dust you will return" (Gen 3:19).

Now Jesus comes and in one ecstatic moment reverses the curse. Jesus is the cure for man's spiritual blindness. He takes the dust of our ancestors and rubs it on the dust that we are. "Go and wash in the pool of the one who is sent," he says. What now, what miracle, what?

I can see!

The serpent's trap is lifted, the crushing barbs pulled from my flesh. Jesus tenderly lifts me out and up, and looks into my eyes. What was invisible has become visible, what was fuzzy is clear, what was mysterious illuminates me. I am no longer afraid, I am inspired and ready for more.

What is this new thing? It's the sight God intended for me all along, from the moment he created man. I can see Jesus! And when I see him now, I am all he made me to be.

Bring on the mud, Lord.

Devotions Archive

Good morning sunshine

Sunday, March 2, 2008