Episode 666

TODAY’S READING

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “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 9:1-7

What I love about this story is that I can see myself and my family in this story. The idea that neither me nor my parents nor the reason or our actions are what made us deserve the cards we were handed. I remember being young and not understanding and asking the question why? Why does my dad have an addiction? Why does my mom suffer from mental health? Why does my house get caught in a fire? Why do I have to be displaced for a year? Why did these things happen to me things? That may happen to other people, but when you’re in it, you feel like you’re the only one. Why did I have to lose? Did I do something to deserve this? And the answer, of course, is no. The answer, of course, is that we live in a fallen world and addiction plagues and fires happen, and we lose the things that we love and the people that we love. But it is not because we deserve to go through pain, but in that God will be glorified. And it wasn’t until later on when I met Jesus. And I looked back, and I saw how God was glorified in everything. I didn’t understand that God was there the whole time. And so when I read this story, and I think of my life, I see a parallel Comparison, where I asked myself, Is it something that I did? This is something that my parents did for us to deserve. And Jesus looked at me and said, No, it is because God is going to be glorified in your story. And I hope that no matter what, you walk through the cards that you’re handed, the seasons that you go through, the valleys that you journey. God will be glorified through it all if you continue to keep him at the forefront of your life. 

So I hope that gives you a little bit of encouragement today because I know that even in the holidays, things happen. Even in the holidays, it could be a rough season. So I hope that this week gives you joy, brings you peace, and that you continue to see God’s fingerprints in your life. And that you remember that nothing that you do can take away the fact that God is going to be glorified in your story.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank you, Lord, for this beautiful Monday. We ask that you bless us as we go into this beautiful Christmas week. God, Jesus is the reason for this season. So main you keep us present, Lord; you keep us connected to our family. And we continue to praise Your Son Jesus this week, and every week we thank you that in every trial we face and every valley we walk, God, you’re right there beside us. We know that you’re going to be glorified in every situation, and we are honored to play a small part. We thank you for your strength and wisdom, even in the painful seasons. We love you. We pray that you continue to impact the people around us through us. We ask this all in your son’s mighty name. Amen.