September 17, 2014
This is My Story and I’m Sticking To It
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25 NIV)
Friend to Friend
One day Jesus was walking down the dusty road of Jerusalem and came upon a blind man sitting by the road. Jesus spat in the dust, made a muddy paste, and rubbed the holy spittle on the blind man’s eyes.
“Go wash at the Pool of Siloam,” He told the man.
When the man washed the sacred mud from his eyes, for the first time in his life, he saw the rays of the sun, the ripples on the water, and the lines on the palms of his hands. He received his sight.
The people in the town were amazed. “Is this the same man we have seen begging by the road for so many years?” they asked.
“It’s me,” he replied with joy. “The very one.”
“How did your eyes get opened?” they asked.
“A man named Jesus made a paste and rubbed it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ I did what He said. When I washed, I saw.”
The religious officials did not like the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath.
They were more concerned with the binding law than the blinded man, so they called the man in to question him.
”He put a clay paste on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.”
Still not satisfied, they called in the man’s parents and questioned them.
“We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he came to see—haven’t a clue about who opened his eyes. Why don’t you ask him? He’s a grown man and can speak for himself.”
So they brought the man blind from birth back in for further questioning.
“Give credit to God,” they said. “We know this man is an imposter.”
He replied, “I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind…I now see.”
You just can’t refute someone’s personal story.
Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Life says, “Personal stories are easier to relate to than principles, and people love to hear them. They capture our attention, and we remember them longer. Unbelievers would probably lose interest if you started quoting theologians, but they have a natural curiosity about experiences they’ve never had. Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs.”
Yes, the once blind man now had a story to tell. God planned it all along. Before the miracle took place, Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
”Neither this man or his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but his happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:2-3).
Sometimes life doesn’t turn out like we thought it would, and we cry “Why Lord? Why?”
And God’s response is the same…so that the work of God might be displayed in your life.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You are El Rapha, the God who heals. Thank You all the ways that You have healed me. I say with the once-blind beggar, “I was blind, but now I see. I pray that Your work will be displayed in my life.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Whenever I read the story of Jesus healing the blind man by the pool of Siloam, I think of the song by John Newton, Amazing Grace. Sing these words with me today.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
More from the Girlfriends
God has many names in the Bible and each one reveals a unique facet of His character and His ways. He is El Rapha—the God who heals, El Roi—the God who sees, and Yahweh Yireh—the God who provides. If you would like to learn more about the names of God and what those names represent, Gwen, Mary and I have written an eight-week devotional titled, Knowing God by Name. It also comes with free video lessons for each week. The better you know Him, the more you will trust Him!
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Originally published Wednesday, 17 September 2014.
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