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Who Am I?
Most of the times when I read a passage of scripture, I place myself in the position of the protagonist. For example, with David and Goliath… I’m David. It’s rare that I read verses and think I’m the antagonist, or in the example given, Goliath.
Where would I place myself in this intriguing passage of scripture? Am I the blind guy who gets near to Jesus? There was nothing within his own power that brought him near to Jesus (which seems to go against James 4:8). It seems as if the planets aligned and then suddenly Jesus is close. No matter how this happened, this bind beggar goes against all religious and social protocol and begs for Jesus. Here’s a guy thirsty for a touch of God in his life.
When do I see Jesus coming near in my circumstance? When was the last time I was so thirsty for a touch of Jesus, I verbally cried out … without regard to who was listening or what people thought? Hmmm…
On the other hand, would I place myself as the antagonist in these few verses? Has my religious box actually hindered people from seeing Jesus? Am I a part of “those who lead the way,” but somehow manage to keep people at arms length from a touch of the Savior? Am I more concerned about my own ideas of protocol than I am proclamation of Jesus?
Lord, forgive me when I get in the way of someone you are coming near to. Jesus, help me to say “congratulations” to someone who is blind but desperately wants to see. The Kingdom of God is so very close.
May I cry out for mercy, Jesus. I want renewed sight, vision, and insight. I want you.
I can see myself staring at that same blind begger who sits on his rear all day and yells out at the people who pass by. Everyday as I enter Jerhico I have to hear his wailing and complaining and begging. I just want to go from my hut to the temple without being annoyed by people like that.
Then comes Jesus, what a great sight, and still this begger is shouting and annoying everyone around. I want him to shut up so I tell him. You deserve to be where you are. I’m sure that you have been terrible in life so endure your fate and be quiet about it. But Jesus sees things differently. Jesus sees things compassionately. And in just a few words he heals a blind man, shatters cultural religiousness, and convicts me to my core.
I am so blind.
Hey Alan I hope you are feeling better. It hurts to be cut open. To be antagonistic, the question here that I see is Why did Jesus heal this blind man. There are and were a lot of sick people around why not them? The last part of the verse “Your faith has made you well” has caused many a christian to stumble. Paul cried out to be healed and Jesus never healed him. Did he lack faith? Did he stumble or walk away from God? I don’t think so. Paul’s illness brought him closer to God made his faith stronger. I echo what you said at the end May I cry out for mercy, Jesus. I want renewed sight, vision, and insight. I want you
I ma thinking of this passagein current time. I think that it is good to put yourself in the passages of the bible but I also try to do that while setting the scene in current time. What about the people I pass on my way to church? What if they are the blind seeking for their Savior. What about the cashier at the grocery store who is seeking for her Savior?
There are tons of examples.
The question I struggle with today is, do I portray God’s love in my life so that those people will know that I know him. Do I live my life is such a way that I constantly show compassion and faithfullness. I pray today that I overflow with God’s love so much that it pours out on those around me.
“Lord, forgive me when I get in the way of someone you are coming near to. Jesus, help me to say “congratulations” to someone who is blind but desperately wants to see. The Kingdom of God is so very close.”
This is what I had to pray on Sunday night after reading James 4: 1-3
” What causes fights & quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill & covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel & fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
I was the antagonist that did not want a great friend to reach out to a lost friend because of my own selfish fears & battles within. I prayed for peace over & over, but sometimes the answers don’t come until we are fet up & just open the word & read. Maybe that’s what HE wanted all a long was for me to read more & of course get out of HIS way & let HIS plan work.
Lesson: remove one’s self for the greater plan.