WHO DID SIN???
Have you ever been in a place in your life where no matter what you do, everything seems to go wrong? You try, you press, you push--all uphill, but you remain at the bottom of the heap with no seeming progress in sight. I know all about it--too well (at least, by my standards). When you find yourself (or see someone in this position) it can be a natural reaction to assume that sin must be the cause. Sometimes, it is. Sometimes, it isn't. I had just such a moment when I woke up today--having had disappointment heaped upon disappointment in rapid succession, of late. My efforts to turn things around have not gone well, at all.
Today, I asked that question--it is right to self examine. I asked God, "What have I done to cause this--why can't I get out of this rut; what am I doing wrong?" Before, I could put the question mark at the end of the question, I got the response: "Don't ask that question!" And, immediately, the passage came to mind where Jesus was about to heal the man who was blind from birth. Jesus was questioned, "Who did sin?" They wanted to know if the blind man's sin had caused his blindness or, was it his parents sin. We always need to have a reason--something concrete to explain the difficulties in our lives, and those around us; often that leads us to point fingers in judgment (at ourselves or others) about things we just don't know. This time, the people who asked got an answer. Jesus told them, NOBODY sinned. This man walked around blind his whole life, and his parents had to deal with the fact that their baby couldn't see, and raise him blind--and deal with the disappointment of not having a "perfect" baby, so that others (the disciples and the neighbors of the man) could see the manifestation of the power of God.
Those three "innocent" people suffered this setback, not for themselves, but to build the faith of others. Sometimes, it just isn't about us--but is much bigger than you, or I. God's plan encompasses much more than a world filled with people, and He works within and without time. Therefore, what appears to us a mighty thing, although important to Him (because of its effect on us), is a miniscule thing to Him. He has our impossibilities fully under control. He knows that no matter how dark the skies may be, in the end, WE WIN! That is God's focus. It must become ours, too.
Job's friends thought the same way many, many years before the disciples encountered this blind man. They looked at Job, more in disgust, than in compassion as he scraped his putrefying boils, trying to find relief. When he cried out that he was innocent and would argue his case before God, instead of offering words of encouragement, and reminding Job that God is in control, no matter what it looks like, they watched his rant, silently and then they accused him of sin--without any direct (or indirect) knowledge of it. Isn't that so much like us? We see people going through a difficult time--particularly, if it is an extended period; and we begin to assume that it must be their own fault. Then the whispering begins, secondhand, thirdhand.... We mar the reputations of others; and often God has allowed the adversary to "consider" His servant(s), because of their upright character. He knows they will be faithful. They may argue, like Job. Sometimes, they may get troubled, perplexed, or cast down, but they get back up and continue on in the race--enduring, by His Spirit.
Whenever we are in "consideration" mode, as difficult as it is, keep in mind, in the end it has purpose, WE ALWAYS WIN, and God holds the reins--not satan. Whatever the adversary does, becomes a tool in God's hand to shape you into a vessel of honor--no problem or trial goes to waste--God uses EVERYTHING! Our suffering is never in vain, in the Lord.
STAND!!!
Grace,
Lisa
Today, I asked that question--it is right to self examine. I asked God, "What have I done to cause this--why can't I get out of this rut; what am I doing wrong?" Before, I could put the question mark at the end of the question, I got the response: "Don't ask that question!" And, immediately, the passage came to mind where Jesus was about to heal the man who was blind from birth. Jesus was questioned, "Who did sin?" They wanted to know if the blind man's sin had caused his blindness or, was it his parents sin. We always need to have a reason--something concrete to explain the difficulties in our lives, and those around us; often that leads us to point fingers in judgment (at ourselves or others) about things we just don't know. This time, the people who asked got an answer. Jesus told them, NOBODY sinned. This man walked around blind his whole life, and his parents had to deal with the fact that their baby couldn't see, and raise him blind--and deal with the disappointment of not having a "perfect" baby, so that others (the disciples and the neighbors of the man) could see the manifestation of the power of God.
Those three "innocent" people suffered this setback, not for themselves, but to build the faith of others. Sometimes, it just isn't about us--but is much bigger than you, or I. God's plan encompasses much more than a world filled with people, and He works within and without time. Therefore, what appears to us a mighty thing, although important to Him (because of its effect on us), is a miniscule thing to Him. He has our impossibilities fully under control. He knows that no matter how dark the skies may be, in the end, WE WIN! That is God's focus. It must become ours, too.
Job's friends thought the same way many, many years before the disciples encountered this blind man. They looked at Job, more in disgust, than in compassion as he scraped his putrefying boils, trying to find relief. When he cried out that he was innocent and would argue his case before God, instead of offering words of encouragement, and reminding Job that God is in control, no matter what it looks like, they watched his rant, silently and then they accused him of sin--without any direct (or indirect) knowledge of it. Isn't that so much like us? We see people going through a difficult time--particularly, if it is an extended period; and we begin to assume that it must be their own fault. Then the whispering begins, secondhand, thirdhand.... We mar the reputations of others; and often God has allowed the adversary to "consider" His servant(s), because of their upright character. He knows they will be faithful. They may argue, like Job. Sometimes, they may get troubled, perplexed, or cast down, but they get back up and continue on in the race--enduring, by His Spirit.
Whenever we are in "consideration" mode, as difficult as it is, keep in mind, in the end it has purpose, WE ALWAYS WIN, and God holds the reins--not satan. Whatever the adversary does, becomes a tool in God's hand to shape you into a vessel of honor--no problem or trial goes to waste--God uses EVERYTHING! Our suffering is never in vain, in the Lord.
STAND!!!
Grace,
Lisa
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