Too See Again

‎April ‎25, ‎2021

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Colossians 1:27-28

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Memory of the month:  And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" —Luke 24:32

Today's reading: 2 SAMUEL 21-22 LUKE 18:24-43

To See Again

In the gospel of John, chapter 9 verse 2, the account is recorded of the encounter of Jesus with 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.”

This man had never seen anything. Jesus gave him sight.

In Luke chapter 18, verses 35 through 43, we read of Jesus' healing another blind man. But this one is different. The man hears a commotion and asks the people around him what is happening and they tell him Jesus of Nazareth is passing. He starts to yell,

"Jesus, Son of King David, show mercy to me!"

The crowd tries to quiet him but he shouts louder, "Jesus, Son of King David, show mercy to me!"

Jesus stops and tells the people to bring the man to him and asks the man what he wants and the man says, "Lord, let me receive my sight."

The greek here actually translates, "I want to recover my sight". In other words, "I want to see again...".

One man blind from birth and the other man had been blinded by some accident or health issue. Jesus gave sight to one who had never seen and the other regained what he once had.

One had never seen anything. The whole world opened up to this man blind from birth. The other man had been born with sight but lost it. One man had never taken his sight for granted. The other did not know what he had until he lost it and wanted it back with all his heart.

Some of us are born into the kingdom of God after living a life of searching but not knowing for what we searched. Some people never hear the gospel until we are grown after lives of sin but receive spiritual sight from the Lord and never take it for granted.

Some of us have known the gospel for what seems always and then respond-some at an early age or later but we are born again and it is real.

God does what He says He will do.

We start to take God's grace for granted. We get into following man's rules for 'church' and get into habits of 'paying our way' instead of 'praying our way'. Then we stray away from God's grace and from God-consciousness. We get further and further involved in sin. We drop out of involvement with God's people or we just show up and let folks around us do all the 'spiritual' stuff.

2 Timothy 3: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

These people, if they ever knew Jesus to begin with, have lost their 'sight'. They have stepped out of the light into darkness.

Jeremiah 50:6

“My people have become lost sheep;

Their shepherds have led them astray.

They have made them turn aside on the mountains;

They have gone along from mountain to hill

And have forgotten their resting place.

If you are reading this and are burdened with guilt or you know someone who has lost their way, they must be told that Jesus is coming their way. They must see Jesus in us and know that that is "still no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", Romans 8:1. They must be led back. God welcomes back and forgives the humble, repentant soul with open arms.

Revelation 2:5

Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

It is time to remember. God loves you as much as anyone in the world. Cry out as the second man did, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Humble yourself before the King of Kings and pour out your heart to him.

Jesus made a promise that we must never forget.

John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."

That guilt you carry-those sins of yours?

1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

We must know that our Heavenly Father does not condemn us if we humbly go to Him and confess. Read the story of the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-32.

Hebrews 13:8

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

No matter how badly we know we have failed Him, He will never stop loving and forgiving. He will never fail us.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I carry a lot of guilt for what I've done, Lord. Have mercy on me, Son of David. I want to see again.

Merciful God who never condemns those in Christ.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen