“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing…
“They called the man who had been blind and said to him, ‘Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see…’
“Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.” John 9:1-7,24-25,35-38
Jesus made clear to the many that the high purpose of the blind man’s handicap was that the works of God might be displayed. As the miracle and its rustling aftermath unfolded, those who believed Jesus was who He claimed He was were born into new sight and understanding of what God does. The Lord had come as the light that illumines the life-changing power of God. To the healed man, God’s grand display shone both physically and spiritually.
The Lord enters our wrangling over blame, castigation, and pontificating opinions about whys and if onlys to suggest another perspective. Instead of meddling in these insignificances, would we have eyes to look for His glory unfolding? Would we quit the horizontal peskiness and look up?
What current situations loom or pester that have taken up way too much of our attention in self-pity, blame, criticism, even fear? Where are we sludging in the horizontal, nit-picking here, accusing there? Whose business takes up our focus and energy more than God’s business?
If we stopped that conversation altogether and considered only what is true, how might our outlook change? If we began to think in the vertical, might we see anew something greater at work, more to learn, more of God’s character and love and power being revealed? The next time we get snarled in the why, would we choose to consider Who is at the helm and what He’s showing us?
When we recognize the Lord’s work on our behalf, or parallel to us but on obvious, splendid display, how readily do we praise Him? Do we take the time to take the knee in humble adoration of His incredible worth?
Lord, in all that transpires keep clear my vision to see Your glorious grace and hand, and worship You.
As the rain and snow 