Blind

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.” - John 9:3-4 HCSB

One of my all time favorite verses, one that tends to drive a lot of what I do and think, is John 9:4 - which says “We must do the work of Him who sent me as long as it is day. For night is coming when no one can work.” And for the first time in awhile, I felt led to read that verse, and passage from which it comes. Just to dwell on it and allow it to renew its meaning to me.

While reading the whole story of the healing of the blind man, another verse sort of reached out and grabbed me.

After the Disciples had questioned to why this man was born blind, his sin or his parent’s sin (that’s the way people thought about disabilities back then), Jesus responded,”He was born blind so that the power of God could be seen in him.” (John 9:3).

God had allowed this man to be born blind so that the work/power of God could be displayed/seen in him.

So, God had allowed this blindness so that ultimately God would be glorified in and through it. In this situation, He was glorified through the man receiving his sight and then testifying to who had healed him.

As I read this, it hit me (yet again), that God sometimes allows things to happen - good or bad - so that He can and will ultimately be glorified through them. And if that’s the case, He does the same things with talents and gifts.

He gives us these things because He wants the Power of God to be seen in and through us by how hard we work, how well we do, and even by how much fun we have doing it.

He gifts us for His use.... whether a talent or an issue/problem.

It’s easy for us to see how an athlete or a singer is gifted for God’s glory. However, it’s hard to think about an issue or a problem being a gift, especially when we are right in the middle of it, but sometimes, maybe even often times, these are ultimately gifts too. Given us for His glory.

Now, I don’t know how to explain how or why things happen sometimes... but I do know that sometimes it’s about the power of God being displayed in and through them.

The question is this... what are we doing with the gifts that we have been given?

Maybe a change of perspective will help us see as the blind man sees.

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem