My dad died a week ago, on a Sunday evening of a massive stroke. He had been a pioneer and an innovator in ministry throughout his eighty years of life. In the early 60's he envisioned a new approach to teaching teens God's truths and was snatched up by a Christian publishing company to write a new curriculum which unbelievably is still being used in some circles today. In the mid to late 60's he saw a generation of baby boomer students hitting the college campuses and losing their hope in Christ. He helped formulate a new kind of ministry, Campus Ministry, to reach, challenge, encourage, shape college age young people for Christ.
In the late 70's and early 80's my dad envisioned a new ministry to Senior adults who were leaving the workplace. This "Greatest Generation," as termed by Tom Brokaw, was the most successful, had the most available resources, the most experience, the greatest work ethic of any generation heading into retirement. My dad saw the potential to the Kingdom of God. He sought to mobilize this vast army of talent, heart, wealth, experience to action and thus launched Christian Seniors Fellowship.
I learned a lot from my dad. It's weird the memories that suddenly pop into your mind at such a time of loss. I can picture my dad teaching me to ride a bike as he ran along side. He taught me to play baseball in the back yard and enrolled me in Little League. He gave me my first taste of sports. He taught me how to pick cherries from our trees, to plant roses and how to care for them. He taught me to drive in all sorts of traffic and weather conditions. He gave me the confidence to try to fix things around the house or on the car when they broke down. I learned to be "me" no matter the environment or company in which I found myself. Growing up in Cincinnati, he taught me to hustle, to give my all and run out every play like Pete Rose. I learn how not to camp from my dad. I learned to be a giver from him.
For all my dad taught me, my love for God is first and foremost. It was his life. Just as Deuteronomy instructs fathers to teach their kids formally and informally, my dad did that for me. Whether it was working in the rose garden, family devotions, riding in the car or around the campfire, he found ways to point me to God and His truths.
My dad loved people. The coffee was always on at our house. There's nothing he enjoyed more than sitting around the kitchen table with friends and family eating, laughing and sharing well into the evening. It was no reclining to the living room at our house, the dining room table was relaxing enough as the laughter and stories went on for hours. It was party wherever he went. He realized the value of relationships and how much people mattered.
I wore my dad's shoes to his funeral. Filling his shoes is probably not possible. He accomplished more in his lifetime for the Kingdom of God than I ever will. I'm not him. I've developed some of his mannerism and am working on his profile, but I'll never be him. However, I am a part of his legacy and so are you if you're reading this. I developed my passion for people and ministry through the example he set for me. And although I can't fill my dad's shoes, I can follow in his foot steps, allowing God to use my gifts and talents for Him.
God, thanks for the example of faith and service my dad was not only to me but to many. I'm a follower of Christ because of he and my mom. I feel so blessed. I pray that I can be as an effective servant for you as he was. I'm so thankful for heaven. I look forward to being in your presence and being united with my dad for eternity. Thanks for the hope beyond the grave, God, that you made possible through Jesus Christ.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Daily Reflections on Prov. 27:14 (Dealing with Irritating Neighbors)l
Neighbors can be a blessing or a curse. For the most part I've been blessed with decent neighbors. However, in one place I lived, I had a neighbor who wasn't very sensitive to her neighbors. It's not that she was obnoxious. It's that she had a some dogs that were out of control and she did nothing to control them.
Her adult children struggled with relationships and keeping jobs. So they would be in and out, staying with her for various periods of time. They would buy dogs and since they had no place to keep them, they would bring them to mom. Max, a mutt with some apparent German Shepherd mix, was an irritant. He didn't like staying in his own yard so he, on a daily basis, would dig out under the fence in her yard run around my back yard and eventually dig out under the fence in my yard. My girls were terrified and for years wouldn't play outside, especially the back yard because Max could be on the loose. I tried staking and tying down the fence, unsightly railroad ties to no avail.
As irritating as that was, Garth was a very energetic dalmatian. Hyper was an understatement. But, he had his days and nights mixed up. Every night he would sit in the corner of the fence next to my bedroom window and bark and howl at the moon and everything else all night long. When day break, he'd be quiet. He was so loud and obnoxious that my neighbors on the other side complained vigorously that he kept them awake. I tried everything to get that dog to shut up, but once again to no avail. I learned to sleep with two fans running in the room just to cover some of the noise.
Although my neighbor acknowledged the problem, she didn't do anything to resolve it. She just blamed it on her kids. I thought of a few solutions, like antifreeze and a twenty-two, but my wife wouldn't let me. Wouldn't that be great news, preacher gets arrested for poisoning or shooting elderly neighbors companion. So I did without sleep and my girls played in the house.
This Proverbs passage talks about being sensitive to your friends and neighbors. Nobody likes a loud or boisterous person first thing in the morning. It's too much to handle. Some people don't like anyone in the morning, at least until they have their coffee. But sensitivity goes beyond just being noisy. Obnoxious behavior drives people crazy any time of the day.
Why is it that the people we're closest to are the very people with whom we have the least manners or around whom we have the most obnoxious behavior? Why is it that people we are closest to we have the least sensitivity for? We are the least concerned about offending our own family than anyone. We say what's on our mind with little regard to the affect it has on our listeners. We show the least respect for members of our own household. Why is it we become the most selfish with the people we love the most?
God, I know I'm selfish. It's apparent in my home the most. Help me to be more sensitive to my wife, to consider her and her needs.
Her adult children struggled with relationships and keeping jobs. So they would be in and out, staying with her for various periods of time. They would buy dogs and since they had no place to keep them, they would bring them to mom. Max, a mutt with some apparent German Shepherd mix, was an irritant. He didn't like staying in his own yard so he, on a daily basis, would dig out under the fence in her yard run around my back yard and eventually dig out under the fence in my yard. My girls were terrified and for years wouldn't play outside, especially the back yard because Max could be on the loose. I tried staking and tying down the fence, unsightly railroad ties to no avail.
As irritating as that was, Garth was a very energetic dalmatian. Hyper was an understatement. But, he had his days and nights mixed up. Every night he would sit in the corner of the fence next to my bedroom window and bark and howl at the moon and everything else all night long. When day break, he'd be quiet. He was so loud and obnoxious that my neighbors on the other side complained vigorously that he kept them awake. I tried everything to get that dog to shut up, but once again to no avail. I learned to sleep with two fans running in the room just to cover some of the noise.
Although my neighbor acknowledged the problem, she didn't do anything to resolve it. She just blamed it on her kids. I thought of a few solutions, like antifreeze and a twenty-two, but my wife wouldn't let me. Wouldn't that be great news, preacher gets arrested for poisoning or shooting elderly neighbors companion. So I did without sleep and my girls played in the house.
This Proverbs passage talks about being sensitive to your friends and neighbors. Nobody likes a loud or boisterous person first thing in the morning. It's too much to handle. Some people don't like anyone in the morning, at least until they have their coffee. But sensitivity goes beyond just being noisy. Obnoxious behavior drives people crazy any time of the day.
Why is it that the people we're closest to are the very people with whom we have the least manners or around whom we have the most obnoxious behavior? Why is it that people we are closest to we have the least sensitivity for? We are the least concerned about offending our own family than anyone. We say what's on our mind with little regard to the affect it has on our listeners. We show the least respect for members of our own household. Why is it we become the most selfish with the people we love the most?
God, I know I'm selfish. It's apparent in my home the most. Help me to be more sensitive to my wife, to consider her and her needs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 139:17-18 (Keeping Focused on the Right Things)
There's just something about looking at the stars at night. On a cloudless night, away from all the city lights, gazing into the starry heavens is just amazing. I remember when I was kid, my dad got me a telescope so that I could gaze more deeply into the universe. I had gotten into space from the time I listened to John Glenn orbiting the earth. But my interest heightened after the first landing on the moon. My dad and I got out the telescope to look closely for the astronauts landing site.
It was easy to see the moon and some of the terrain, but my little telescope didn't allow me to see any of the stars real close even at maximum power. They still were so far away. It really hit me how vast the universe really was and how really small I was in comparison. It got me thinking how vast God must be to have created it all. I was in awe of Him. The expanse of God's power and thoughts blew me away.
The psalmist talks about the vastness of God's thoughts in Psalm 139. God's wisdom, His understanding, His knowledge is unfathomable. Like the universe there is no end to them. It dawned on me one day that God understood and knew all about nuclear fission long before we discovered it, because He laid out the principles. We have may a hard time with quantum mechanics and string theory, but God just smirks at our quandary over it. There is nothing He doesn't know. The most complex questions of our universe is child's play to God.
Yet of all the things God knows, the focus of His thoughts are on us. Now that blows me away. I keep going back to Psalm 8 and crying out, "O God, how majestic your are. What is man that you think about us? about me?" Yet He does. I'm the object of His thoughts. That's incredible. He's got a whole universe to consider and deal with and He is thinking about me first and foremost. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He knows when I have a hang nail. Unbelievable! He's thinking of me and He's thinking of you this very moment. He knows my thoughts right this instance.
If with all that God has to do in the universe He's focused on each of us, on me, then how can I be too busy to think about Him. And better yet, how can I be too busy for my spouse or my family? God has a whole lot more on His plate than I do. And if He can stay focused on us, individually, what excuse do I have not to focus on the people who are closest to me? I know that I'm not God and have physical limitations, and after all there is only so much time in the day. However, it ought to help prioritize what's really important in my life. My responsibilities, my stuff, my agenda isn't nearly as involved or important as God's, so if God thinks that focusing on the people He loves above all else is vital, maybe there's a lesson for me.
God, you are so awesome. I'm am drawn to your majestic nature. I'm drawn not just because you have unlimited knowledge and power. I'm drawn because you're focused on me and demonstrate that love to me. Help me to have the same kind of thoughtfulness and focus on my wife and family. Give me the insight, wisdom, strength, timing and love I need to express to my loved ones.
It was easy to see the moon and some of the terrain, but my little telescope didn't allow me to see any of the stars real close even at maximum power. They still were so far away. It really hit me how vast the universe really was and how really small I was in comparison. It got me thinking how vast God must be to have created it all. I was in awe of Him. The expanse of God's power and thoughts blew me away.
The psalmist talks about the vastness of God's thoughts in Psalm 139. God's wisdom, His understanding, His knowledge is unfathomable. Like the universe there is no end to them. It dawned on me one day that God understood and knew all about nuclear fission long before we discovered it, because He laid out the principles. We have may a hard time with quantum mechanics and string theory, but God just smirks at our quandary over it. There is nothing He doesn't know. The most complex questions of our universe is child's play to God.
Yet of all the things God knows, the focus of His thoughts are on us. Now that blows me away. I keep going back to Psalm 8 and crying out, "O God, how majestic your are. What is man that you think about us? about me?" Yet He does. I'm the object of His thoughts. That's incredible. He's got a whole universe to consider and deal with and He is thinking about me first and foremost. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He knows when I have a hang nail. Unbelievable! He's thinking of me and He's thinking of you this very moment. He knows my thoughts right this instance.
If with all that God has to do in the universe He's focused on each of us, on me, then how can I be too busy to think about Him. And better yet, how can I be too busy for my spouse or my family? God has a whole lot more on His plate than I do. And if He can stay focused on us, individually, what excuse do I have not to focus on the people who are closest to me? I know that I'm not God and have physical limitations, and after all there is only so much time in the day. However, it ought to help prioritize what's really important in my life. My responsibilities, my stuff, my agenda isn't nearly as involved or important as God's, so if God thinks that focusing on the people He loves above all else is vital, maybe there's a lesson for me.
God, you are so awesome. I'm am drawn to your majestic nature. I'm drawn not just because you have unlimited knowledge and power. I'm drawn because you're focused on me and demonstrate that love to me. Help me to have the same kind of thoughtfulness and focus on my wife and family. Give me the insight, wisdom, strength, timing and love I need to express to my loved ones.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Daily Reflections on Rom. 12:10 (Honoring Others)
Sunday, I challenged our congregation to take the "Love Dare" by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. It's a forty day devotional and lifestyle challenge especially focused at married couples, but has some profound implications to all relationships. We're doing it in correlation with a series I'm doing on marriage and family. Each day the Love Dare has a basic scripture followed by some thoughts and then finally a love challenge for the day. There's a place to keep a journal of what's happening in your relationship. So for the next 6 weeks I have decided to use the basic scripture as a basis for my own reflections.
My first observation is that each day as you digest the scripture and thought for the day and then take the challenge, that something happens to you. It changes you, your attitude, your behavior patterns. It's easy to get into destructive behavior patterns without even knowing. The more familiar we become with our partner over time, there is a tendency to just let our relationship hover. The routines of life take over and before you know it the thrill is gone.
Day to day it's hard to stay focused on your relationship. Before long many marriages are more like a drudgery than a joy. Things get said or don't get said that begin to create small fissures in a marriage. Over time those fissures grow and if nothing is done can be devastating. But if proper steps are taken, those fissures can be repaired.
When we got married we promised to love, honor and cherish our spouse till death. Unfortunately the honoring and cherishing dissipates rather quickly. Mistake. Honoring our spouse is the key to a healthy a relationship. Sunday, I talked about the importance of husbands honoring their spouse from 1 Peter 3:7. There's a tendency among men to want their wives to honor them, to build them up, to have their wives support them while they build their own careers or accomplish their own goals. Yet, God instructs husbands to honor their wives and build them up in the same way Christ does the church.
But the truth is honoring our mate has to happen by both marriage partners. As I honor my mate, my spouse is moved toward me. Who wants to be criticized, critiqued or made to feel subservient all the time. But if someone honors you, you are drawn to them. And something strange happens to me, as I focus on honoring someone, especially my spouse, my heart and attitude change toward them. I find myself rooting for that person and wanting to invest more into that person.
God, I want to honor my wife in practical ways. I realize that when I honor her I'm honoring you. Give me the insight and wisdom to help her become all she can be. Help me rid myself of my selfishness and sometimes critical or demanding or demeaning speech.
My first observation is that each day as you digest the scripture and thought for the day and then take the challenge, that something happens to you. It changes you, your attitude, your behavior patterns. It's easy to get into destructive behavior patterns without even knowing. The more familiar we become with our partner over time, there is a tendency to just let our relationship hover. The routines of life take over and before you know it the thrill is gone.
Day to day it's hard to stay focused on your relationship. Before long many marriages are more like a drudgery than a joy. Things get said or don't get said that begin to create small fissures in a marriage. Over time those fissures grow and if nothing is done can be devastating. But if proper steps are taken, those fissures can be repaired.
When we got married we promised to love, honor and cherish our spouse till death. Unfortunately the honoring and cherishing dissipates rather quickly. Mistake. Honoring our spouse is the key to a healthy a relationship. Sunday, I talked about the importance of husbands honoring their spouse from 1 Peter 3:7. There's a tendency among men to want their wives to honor them, to build them up, to have their wives support them while they build their own careers or accomplish their own goals. Yet, God instructs husbands to honor their wives and build them up in the same way Christ does the church.
But the truth is honoring our mate has to happen by both marriage partners. As I honor my mate, my spouse is moved toward me. Who wants to be criticized, critiqued or made to feel subservient all the time. But if someone honors you, you are drawn to them. And something strange happens to me, as I focus on honoring someone, especially my spouse, my heart and attitude change toward them. I find myself rooting for that person and wanting to invest more into that person.
God, I want to honor my wife in practical ways. I realize that when I honor her I'm honoring you. Give me the insight and wisdom to help her become all she can be. Help me rid myself of my selfishness and sometimes critical or demanding or demeaning speech.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 119:66 (Give Me Wise Discernment)
I'm bewildered. Why is it that we know the right thing to do and choose to do the wrong thing? We know you can't put a square peg in a round hole, but we'll give it the good ol' college try even to the point of exasperation. We'll pound and squeeze and manipulate to get that sucker in there. We do that with life all the time. We know the right thing, but we try to make our way work anyway.
"Christians" aren't any better than non-Christians when it comes to this subject. I guess that's why the hypocrite label gets attached so quickly. I'm going to go party with my friends, but I'll be there Sunday morning. I'm gonna move in with my girlfriend but I still plan to play in the worship band. I'm gonna join the prayer team, but not stop my verbal abuse of family and coworkers. How is it that we blatantly ignore God's truth and teachings and still expect everything to be hunky dory in our spiritual life, walk with God or even everyday life?
The psalmist says in our passage today, since I believe in God's commandments, teach me good discernment and knowledge. In other words, God I believe in your Word, teach me how to live it practically in my everyday life. Many people believe in God's Word, they just refuse to do it. The Bible's definition of sin is whoever knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it. Sin breaks our relationship with God. Jesus said you can't serve two masters, either you hate the one and love the other or serve the one and not the other. So when we purposely decide to do what God said not to do, we alienate ourselves from God. We are choosing to sever our relationship with God at our own risk.
However, if we truly believe in God and trust Him, then we will do as He asks, instructs, teaches us to do. God isn't interested in being a killjoy to rob us of our fun. He's interested in our well being emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. It only makes sense to seek God's specific instruction on life issues, daily issues. I'd be a moron not to follow His ways. And since God knows all things and I don't, seeking His direction in the practical areas of life only makes sense.
God, I pray the psalmist's prayer. I believe in your truths. Teach me GOOD discernment and knowledge today and tomorrow and the next day. I want to be in step with you.
"Christians" aren't any better than non-Christians when it comes to this subject. I guess that's why the hypocrite label gets attached so quickly. I'm going to go party with my friends, but I'll be there Sunday morning. I'm gonna move in with my girlfriend but I still plan to play in the worship band. I'm gonna join the prayer team, but not stop my verbal abuse of family and coworkers. How is it that we blatantly ignore God's truth and teachings and still expect everything to be hunky dory in our spiritual life, walk with God or even everyday life?
The psalmist says in our passage today, since I believe in God's commandments, teach me good discernment and knowledge. In other words, God I believe in your Word, teach me how to live it practically in my everyday life. Many people believe in God's Word, they just refuse to do it. The Bible's definition of sin is whoever knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it. Sin breaks our relationship with God. Jesus said you can't serve two masters, either you hate the one and love the other or serve the one and not the other. So when we purposely decide to do what God said not to do, we alienate ourselves from God. We are choosing to sever our relationship with God at our own risk.
However, if we truly believe in God and trust Him, then we will do as He asks, instructs, teaches us to do. God isn't interested in being a killjoy to rob us of our fun. He's interested in our well being emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. It only makes sense to seek God's specific instruction on life issues, daily issues. I'd be a moron not to follow His ways. And since God knows all things and I don't, seeking His direction in the practical areas of life only makes sense.
God, I pray the psalmist's prayer. I believe in your truths. Teach me GOOD discernment and knowledge today and tomorrow and the next day. I want to be in step with you.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 89:15 (There's Nothing Like Corporate Celebration)
The Super Bowl plays for the 44th time in just a few days. It's always more fun to watch the game with a group of people, especially when half the crowd roots for one team and the other half roots for the other team. It's great fun. There's something special about the group atmosphere. There's more excitement, more fervor, more celebration, more intensity. Go to any sporting event and you'll experience an environment that elevates the passion for everyone. Announcers often talk about feeling the excitement in the air. Home field advantage is more than just knowing the dimensions of the arena. It's about the crowd and emotions of those in the stands.
The same is true about corporate worship. I love getting out my guitar and singing worship songs during my alone time with God. It is a personal time for me, but somehow it just does match the time of corporate worship at our church or better yet a huge conference with several thousand voices and full instrumentation. The full sound of everyone singing takes me to a different level. The environment stimulates my passion for God and what it means to be a part of His family. It's a taste of heaven.
The psalmist talks about how blessed are those who know that joyful sound of worship or even to the call to worship. They know that the experience is going to bring them closer to the presence of God, emotionally and spiritually. It's through corporate worship that our barriers and distractions are eliminated and we open our heart and mind to God. We feel less inhibited in our expression to God and our intimacy with Him deepens. It's really the closest thing to being in Heaven.
I've tried to picture what it will be like singing around the throne of God. I've read the descriptions in Revelation and the closest thing I can come to it is the 90,000 men I gathered with at a Promise Keepers Rally a few years back. To hear that many men singing praise to God was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. Standing on the stadium floor as the songs echoed across the stands was unbelievable.
I look forward to our worship time every Sunday morning. I can't imagine not having it. I can tolerate poor preaching, oh wait, that's me. I can endure a less inspiring message as long as there is energy in our worship, that it's a true time of celebration. I find that I'm generally more challenged and inspired when our corporate worship opens my heart to God.
Thanks God for loving me. Thanks for allowing me to be in your presence through song and praise. I don't understand why some people choose to miss the corporate celebration of praising you together. It's such an awesome place to meet with you. I can't wait for Sunday.
The same is true about corporate worship. I love getting out my guitar and singing worship songs during my alone time with God. It is a personal time for me, but somehow it just does match the time of corporate worship at our church or better yet a huge conference with several thousand voices and full instrumentation. The full sound of everyone singing takes me to a different level. The environment stimulates my passion for God and what it means to be a part of His family. It's a taste of heaven.
The psalmist talks about how blessed are those who know that joyful sound of worship or even to the call to worship. They know that the experience is going to bring them closer to the presence of God, emotionally and spiritually. It's through corporate worship that our barriers and distractions are eliminated and we open our heart and mind to God. We feel less inhibited in our expression to God and our intimacy with Him deepens. It's really the closest thing to being in Heaven.
I've tried to picture what it will be like singing around the throne of God. I've read the descriptions in Revelation and the closest thing I can come to it is the 90,000 men I gathered with at a Promise Keepers Rally a few years back. To hear that many men singing praise to God was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. Standing on the stadium floor as the songs echoed across the stands was unbelievable.
I look forward to our worship time every Sunday morning. I can't imagine not having it. I can tolerate poor preaching, oh wait, that's me. I can endure a less inspiring message as long as there is energy in our worship, that it's a true time of celebration. I find that I'm generally more challenged and inspired when our corporate worship opens my heart to God.
Thanks God for loving me. Thanks for allowing me to be in your presence through song and praise. I don't understand why some people choose to miss the corporate celebration of praising you together. It's such an awesome place to meet with you. I can't wait for Sunday.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Daily Reflections on Ps. 146:8 (Seeing Clearly)
Psalm 146:8 reminds me a lot of Isaiah 61 and Luke 4. In Luke 4, Jesus, speaking in the synagogue in Nazareth, picks up the scroll from Isaiah 61 and begins reading, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD" Then Jesus added that today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
It's apparent that the promise of Psalm 146:8 is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Opening the the eyes of the blind or recovery of sight to the blind appear to have more of a spiritual meaning than a physical meaning. Yes, Jesus did heal the blind physically, but the greater meaning has to do with those who are blind spiritually, emotionally. Those confused by life and/or its questions. Those who come to God or Christ begging for sight, for understanding, for truth will find it in Him.
When we do humble ourselves before God and seek Him, He lifts us up and out of our plight. Now, getting to the point where we are willing to ask God for help can be an interesting journey. For many of us we have to be at the breaking point in life before we're willing to turn to God. Like a two year old, we would rather do it ourself. So we wrestle it ourselves, worry, get frustrated, angry, destroy a few relationships before we're willing to consider submitting it to God.
As long we hang onto our issues, our life, our agenda we miss the greatest promise of this passage. The verse says that God loves the righteous, that means has an intimate relationship and bond with those who've surrendered themselves to God through Christ. Righteousness only comes through Christ, not from ourselves. As long as we keep holding on to our issues or our life, we can never experience the joyful relationship with God.
God, thanks for loving us. I admit that I have a tendency to try to handle everything in life on my own. I know I need you, but I also know I'm stubborn sometimes, ok a lot of times. Give me your vision. Give me your strength. Lift me up. Embrace me as I turn to you and release my life and ministry to you.
It's apparent that the promise of Psalm 146:8 is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Opening the the eyes of the blind or recovery of sight to the blind appear to have more of a spiritual meaning than a physical meaning. Yes, Jesus did heal the blind physically, but the greater meaning has to do with those who are blind spiritually, emotionally. Those confused by life and/or its questions. Those who come to God or Christ begging for sight, for understanding, for truth will find it in Him.
When we do humble ourselves before God and seek Him, He lifts us up and out of our plight. Now, getting to the point where we are willing to ask God for help can be an interesting journey. For many of us we have to be at the breaking point in life before we're willing to turn to God. Like a two year old, we would rather do it ourself. So we wrestle it ourselves, worry, get frustrated, angry, destroy a few relationships before we're willing to consider submitting it to God.
As long we hang onto our issues, our life, our agenda we miss the greatest promise of this passage. The verse says that God loves the righteous, that means has an intimate relationship and bond with those who've surrendered themselves to God through Christ. Righteousness only comes through Christ, not from ourselves. As long as we keep holding on to our issues or our life, we can never experience the joyful relationship with God.
God, thanks for loving us. I admit that I have a tendency to try to handle everything in life on my own. I know I need you, but I also know I'm stubborn sometimes, ok a lot of times. Give me your vision. Give me your strength. Lift me up. Embrace me as I turn to you and release my life and ministry to you.
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