Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 16, 2014
After saying this, he [Jesus] spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9:6-7
Sometimes God blesses us out of the blue. We don’t see it coming, but when we encounter His goodness, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. Such was the experience of the blind man, who minding his own business, became the recipient of Christ’s mercy. This feeble man of sorrows was touched by the Man of Sorrows. Our Lord does not look at a misfortunate man with contempt, but with compassion. Jesus came to save not judge, though His coming is judgment for those who stay stuck in their unbelief. God’s unsolicited blessings manifest from His mercy.
Moreover, there will always be contemporary critics who can’t handle Christ’s miraculous intervention. Strangely, instead of celebrating the wholeness of this man’s body, the spiritually blind leaders shifted the discussion to a theological debate. Because they were not the instigators of this healing or the recipient of God’s grace, they were opposed to Christ’s act of mercy. We can expect the unenlightened to explain away our experience of the Lord’s favor. Jealous distractors will try to demean Jesus by dismissing His divinity, but His blessings still remain.
“Her (Elizabeth’s) neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy” (Luke 1:58).
Furthermore, when Christ calls us to obey, we obey. Though it may not seem as strange as allowing Him to smear the saliva stained mud of His mercy on our eyes with us washing it away, we will still trust and obey. Faith without obedience is without effect, but faith with obedience sees the Spirit’s effect. Thus, we don’t sit around and pridefully debate the origin of a man or woman’s misfortune, instead we get our hands dirty in the mud of God’s mercy and we lovingly serve!
How do you regularly rejoice in God’s unsolicited blessings? Perhaps over a meal with your family, each one shares how they’ve been surprised by joy. Or, as you engage people in every day life, make note of the Lord’s favor in their lives. Pass on these nuggets of encouragement to friends and loved ones. Jesus miraculously intervenes all around you, so be aware and share. Be a steward of God’s stories of faithfulness. His unsolicited blessings deserve your recognition and rejoicing!
“Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence” (Psalm 21:6).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise you for the blessings prayed for and for the unexpected blessings.
Related Readings: Job 33:26; 2 Kings 5:10; Isaiah 35:5; John 11:37; Hebrews 10:23
Post/Tweet today: Faith without obedience is without effect, but faith with obedience sees the Spirit’s effect. #wisdomhunters
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© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
