Expectant Faith

"When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing."

John 9:6-8

Jesus healed many people while He walked the earth, but not always in the same way. In this particular miracle, the Lord used saliva, dirt and water to bring sight to the blind man. There was no power in these material things, the healing power came from the will of Jesus Himself. When He works in the lives of people, the Lord doesn't follow a formula. There are as many different ways He accomplishes His purpose, as there are individuals. However, His will and our faith are always  involved. It was the Lord's will to heal the blind man, but it wouldn't have happened without the expectant faith he had to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. 

My Father's Business

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49

In Luke's account of Mary and Joseph finding Jesus in the Jerusalem temple, we get our first glimpse of why Jesus came to earth. He must be about His Father's business. On those particular days while His parents searched for Him, Jesus was "sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46). That was His Father's business. But it was also His Father's business that Jesus should be submissive to Mary and Joseph. "And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them" (Luke 2:51). Eighteen years later, Jesus would begin His public ministry. More of His Father's business. Whether Jesus was in the temple, at home with His parents, or performing miracles and revealing His Father to the people, He was dong His Father's will. We don't have to be on the church staff, or in the mission field to be about our Heavenly Father's business. Even the most common task we perform is serving the Father, if we do it with Him in mind and for His glory.

The Wisdom of Humility

"But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

Luke 22:33-34

Peter's pride was his undoing. Jesus revealed to him that he would soon undergo a great trial, temptation from Satan himself (Luke 22:31-32). But the disciple hardly seems to have heard the Lord. Instead, he boasts in his own strength: "I am ready". Peter could have avoided so much shame and heartache by admitting he could do nothing on His own and asking Christ to sustain him. Our good intentions are not enough to make us stand firm.  We may desire with all our hearts to remain faithful, but it is God who empowers us to do so. Jesus said, "You can do nothing without me." The very moment  we humble ourselves and admit our need for Him, the Lord strengthens us. In humility there is great wisdom. 

Soul Healer

"I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, 

Because You have seen my affliction; 

You have known the troubles of my soul," 

Psalm 31:7

Human understanding is good, but it isn't perfect. Because humans are flawed, so is the support we receive from them. But when we share our troubles with the Lord and He says, "I know how you feel," He really does. Through the incarnation, Christ experienced every human feeling that could be felt, and so He empathizes with us completely. Even more, the Lord can do something about our pain. His love and kindness can touch the sadness in our soul and heal it. Those who have experienced this kind of fellowship with Christ rejoice. They are glad to be acquainted with Him. Because no one gets it like Jesus does.

Illumined Hearts

"For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:6

Paul gives us a beautiful picture of spiritual conversion in this verse. The God who brought physical light out of darkness, is able to illumine our darkened hearts with knowledge of Himself. So that we who once walked in ignorance of God's glory, now understand it in the person of Christ. This is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah:

"The people who walk in darkness 

Will see a great light; 

Those who live in a dark land, 

The light will shine on them."

(Isaiah 9:2) 

Commander In Chief

"For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ 

And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’"

Job 37:6

On Tuesday last week we received 18 inches of snow. It's a little early in the season for such a large amount of snowfall, but that only reminds me of the absolute control our God has over  creation. Man thinks he has power, but only God can command the snow and the rain. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. But always as He has designed it to be.

Our Protector and Defender

"But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, 

My glory, and the One who lifts my head." 

Psalm 3:3

David had great confidence in the Lord. He knew Him as his protector and defender. The One who would save David from his enemies. The God who would lift his head when he was in despair. David's glory was God Himself. Our own enemies may appear as worry or fear when we face life's trials. But when we call on God, He surrounds us as a shield and fends off those anxious thoughts. He gives us peace, and exchanges our sorrow for the joy we have in knowing and trusting Him. We can say, as David did, "God is my glory."