Thoughts for another day

Jan. 28, 2013.

Today's verse: Jn. 9:2, 3. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The nature of man is always to find a reason for everything which is why we always seek an answer for things that happen in our lives and usually, our thoughts veer toward the negative; the bad reasons.  In the episode of the man born blind in ch. 9 of John’s Gospel, we see the disciples of Jesus seeking an answer to, why was the man born blind and blaming it on either him or his parents sinning.  This nature of attributing any bad happening on the evil in a man is rather carcinogenic and I reckon it’s because we love to say, this one is sinful or that one deserves it, etc.

We’re never interested in either knowing or seeing the flip side of things where there could be some other reason.  That’s what Jesus exhibits in their discussion at the beginning and in the tremendous miracle He performs on the blind man.  Jesus is so good that instead of attributing any evil reason on the man or his parents, he shows that the reason for the blindness is so that the glory of God may be manifest in the man.  This is the difference between us and God.  God always loves to see positive change whereas, we always love to see someone destroyed in the sin they crave and commit.  God provides us a life line, we close the door. 

As Christians, followers of Christ, our life is enriched by the rich thoughts we harbor toward our neighbor.  And I feel that we must often ask ourselves, ‘Am I using the gifts God has given me to help my fellow men?’  While my inner mind reminds me of this many times, I yet don’t as much as lift a finger when I see someone in need and that’s what I hate in me.  I may have many excuses for not doing so, but they’re mere excuses and don’t stand the test of God’s yardstick.  Yet, with the help of His Grace I believe I would be converted enough to at least feel the misery of a fellow human being in trouble.  I can then work toward helping him and that would please God; then, would my habit of finding fault and assigning ‘morale deflating reasons’ cease.