Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:8-15

I wonder if perhaps, just for a short time, Jesus felt guilty about not being there for Lazarus. We know Jesus was as human as we, and felt all the same emotions. Even though Jesus knew He was going to “wake him up” it must have been a little difficult.

Jesus is showing us that in doing what we are called for, there will be things we are unable to do. Sometimes I call these Mutually Exclusive Double Overlapping Obligations. We all know the feeling of being busy, of being pulled in multiple directions by the things we do. Jesus understood this, but He shows us that obedience to God is our primary duty.

Jesus followed the instruction He had from God first and then went to His friend. We can’t do everything, we are bound by our resources and our human limitations. However, when we obey God our efforts can be multiplied, and by doing His will we are blessed.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the call You place on our lives, the gifts to do those tasks and the joy it brings. Help us to be faithful and energetic servants of Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 11:1-45.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
John 11:1-7

We may forget that Jesus had friends outside the circle of Peter, John and James and the other disciples. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were the closest to Him, offering their home to Jesus and the disciples when they passed that way. It is not surprising that the sisters would send a message to Jesus to let Him know that Lazarus was sick.

Jesus saw even the illness of His friend as an opportunity to give glory to God, that through His action on earth people could come to know God’s love. However, He knew that He had been sent for a specific purpose, and continued His work for two more days before turning toward Judea. He was so focused on His mission for God that nothing would distract Him.

During the current pandemic, we see the same selfless devotion from people who are doing God’s work to halt the spread of the infection, often at the expense of time with their families and their personal well-being. May we understand their call to service and do all we can to support them and those they leave at home daily for the good of our communities. God has called us all to a purpose on earth, but none more important than our care for each other.

Gracious God, we thank You for the special love given to us to share with others. Help us in this time to serve with care and courage, doing all we can for Your children in need. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
John 9:39-41

Jesus tells the Pharisees (and us) “the blind will see and those who see will become blind” (v. 39). He teaches that those who seek the Lord as if they were blind will find Him, because they are relying on His strength, not their own. Those who trust their own knowledge, like this group of Pharisees, will find they are blind to the way of the Lord.

While this story appears to focus on Jesus healing a man of physical blindness, it points to our inability to find our way spiritually without knowing Him. We are in such a time right now, finding our own knowledge and strength are not equal to the challenge we face without faith.

Jesus reaches out to show us the way, to end our blind groping in darkness, wanting us to know Him and live in the light. It has been said there are none so blind as they who will not see, and Jesus expresses this to those who refuse to see His goodness and mercy for us. We must be willing to let go of our own path and plans to move forward to what God has promised us.

Loving Lord, we struggle like those who are blind, relying on our own feeble knowledge to lead us. Open our eyes to see the wonderful blessing You have waiting for us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. John 9:35-38

The man who had been blind has been defending his healing by Jesus to a disbelieving community. Imagine receiving a blessing of this magnitude and having to convince people that it had actually happened. Couldn’t they see that he could see also? How hard is that?

Perhaps Jesus intended this as a lesson about how it would be for us, testifying to His resurrection and the gift of salvation to an unbelieving world. We were blind but now we see how God loves us and that He calls us to share that love. However, for others to see, they must first accept the gift for themselves, believing that God is sovereign and putting their faith in Him.

The man Jesus healed confesses his faith and worships the Lord, accepting the gift of physical sight as well as a spiritual rebirth through Him. If we truly want to see Jesus and live as He taught us, we must accept the healing He offers. We must see the world in a new way and go to offer His healing to everyone.

Gracious God, we are lost and broken, but by Your love we are found and healed. Help us to share this wonderful blessing with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
John 9:30-34

The (formerly) blind man questions the Pharisees’ knowledge and their faith, stating “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing” (v. 33). This infuriates them and they throw him out. His honesty about what Jesus has done for him defies their understanding.

They are too wrapped up in their own position in the religious hierarchy and their misapplication of the law to see the miracle that has occurred. Instead of giving thanks to God for the healing the man received, they are angry that it was performed on the Sabbath and without their involvement. We must ask ourselves “are we still like the Pharisees?”

We argue about how to resolve a problem, unwilling to give the other side a “win”, regardless of the good it might achieve. Once the disciples reported a man performing miracles in Jesus’ name and asked if they should stop him – because he wasn’t one of them. Jesus replied that “no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me” (Mark 9:39). We must look first for the goodness in an action and not the affiliation of the one who does it.

Loving Lord, teach us Your ways and show us how to love one another. Let us see that all who do Your will are our brothers and sisters, regardless of who they are or where they come from. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
John 9:24-29

The (formerly) blind man is called before the Pharisees yet again. They continue to question him, but his testimony is simple and honest. They are not listening to understand, but to refute.

We are still guilty of this today, in our daily life and our faith life as well. Often our minds are closed to situations we encounter, and any conversation that doesn’t agree with our view leads to argument and condemnation. The facts on both sides are sometimes lost in the heat of the exchange.

I remember as a high school debater if we went off topic or spoke negatively of our opponents, we lost points. If we do this in life, we lose opportunities, and sometimes relationships. Even in our disagreement, may we continue to treat each other as Jesus taught us, listening and speaking in love.

Heavenly Father, we are passionate creatures who often let our feelings get the better of us. Help us to practice the self-control Jesus displayed, living according to the law of Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
John 9:16-23

People react differently to the healing Jesus performs in this lesson. The blind man seems surprised that there are so many questions and that his account is not believed – after all, he was blind and now he can see. His parents are afraid of being removed from the synagogue if they testify to the miracle. The Pharisees argue among themselves about Jesus, whether or not He is really from God.

Humans are extremely hard to convince. We know what we know and we don’t want to know anything else! Even when something amazing happens, we either ignore it, deny it or explain it away. This seems to be the case with the people at this point in our scripture.

God has miraculous gifts for us every day. The very fact that we exist in this marvelous world should be enough to convince us of God’s power and love. Open your eyes to the blessings we share and have faith that God will continue to care for us always.

Gracious God, we are so slow to see the wonders of Your creation and to realize our part in all that occurs. Help us to recognize Your gifts and use them faithfully. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
John 9:8-15

Jesus healed the blind man, but those around him have difficulty believing it happened. They ask how it occurred and the man tells them plainly, but it isn’t enough for them. They bring him to the Pharisees for answers.

Why do we question blessings like this? Is it part of our desire to be in control of things? A man has received healing and instead of rejoicing with him, we want to know who did it and how it was done. We fail to recognize the love of God in these things, instead reducing them to something we can duplicate or deny.

God has given us the gift of intellect and the curiosity to discover many things. We should thank Him for our marvelous abilities, but understand that some things are beyond us and our lack of knowledge should make us humble before Him. God has created all things and “on earth is not His equal”.

Wise and wonderful God, we struggle to be like You in the wrong ways. We want to be powerful and in charge of things. Help us to be more like You in our love and care for each other, sharing Your blessings with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 9:1-41.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
John 9:1-7

This week’s scripture gives us insight to some of the beliefs of Jesus’ time, such as the thinking that disabilities were sent from God as punishment for sin. When His disciples ask, Jesus replies that neither the man nor his parents sinned, and He heals the blind man. Jesus will use this opportunity to make a point to them, the religious leaders, and the entire community.

He makes mud, places it on the man’s eyes, and sends the man to wash in a nearby pool. This mirrors our creation from the dust of the earth and our need to be washed clean in order to reconnect with God. Jesus is telling us that God made us and that only God can make us whole again.

Allowing the blind to see is an analogy that we encounter many times in scripture, showing us that Jesus came to open our eyes to the reality of God’s love for us. Once we are able to see this for ourselves, we are called to open the eyes of others to this blessing. Our testimony to the truth of Christ is how we share His love with everyone.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of Jesus to reveal Your love for us. Help us to be the means of sharing Your love and mercy with everyone. Amen.