DAY 49 - ARE YOU READY FOR THE SMOKE?
CONNOR GRIM, YA ASSOCIATE PASTOR & VOLUNTEER TEAM LEAD
“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.’ 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.” John 9:13-18
Oftentimes I find myself praying and asking God for big and audacious things. Prayers for miraculous financial breakthrough, prayers for healing, prayers for vision and clarity into the future. And while a lot of my prayer life revolves around me (I say that sheepishly) God rarely answers prayers just for me. When God moves and performs a miracle, oftentimes it has a rippling impact on a lot of different people in my life; both those who believe and want to celebrate with me and those who are skeptical and call me to question.
In John 9 we see a man who has been blind from birth. Jesus comes on the scene and performs a miracle (granted, in an unusual way) and heals the man of his blindness! What an answer to prayer! However, even though this man’s life has been radically changed, we see that there were some people that were less than impressed with this man’s miracle. The Pharisees call into question this man's miracle, claiming everything from it being staged to calling Jesus a sinner and saying that God wouldn’t honor Jesus’ actions!
Now I want you to take a minute and think about this. This man's miracle affected way more than just himself. There were people that were amazed and celebrated, there were people that were offended and questioned, even his parents were brought into the conversation! What should have been a clear sign that Jesus is loving, caring, and kind, turned into a fiasco that eventually got this man kicked out of the place he worshiped!
What can we learn from this? Are we ready for the smoke? When Jesus does something in our lives, it's rarely just for us. The answer to your prayer is going to have a rippling effect that will impact people around you both believers and nonbelievers alike. So what do you do?
Celebrate with those who are encouraged by your miracle
Share Jesus with those who have questions
Have grace and love for those who are offended