Grace is unmerited favor, doing something for someone when they do not deserve favor. In our case, we regularly push God’s favor away, we deny Him, even His existence. Yet, He chose to reach down to us, introduce himself to us and sacrificed His own life on earth to provide the pathway for man to enter His Kingdom. These actions were the ultimate of humility.
The most compelling things in the testimony of Christ and His ministry, as well as God the Father and the effect of our Holy Spirit is that they all use the simple, the most down to earth truth to testify of their love to mankind. Jesus used a highly tarnished woman to save an entire town. Jesus used a prostitute to convict a group of religious leaders. Jesus uses a blind man to change the hearts of others and convict the arrogant. What an amazing God we serve. He even used a donkey to ask an evil man why he hates God so much. Balaam admitted that God hurt his pride. The same happened to the Pharisees in John 9 where a man is healed, and they can do nothing about it.
What would they want to do? Give the man back blindness? It is amazing that man can take something so great as receiving eyesight and pick it apart to make it a detriment; all because they had nothing to do with it; all because it draws away from their power base; it illuminates them for who they are, evil men hungry for power and willing to do anything to keep it.
Regardless, God’s grace shines through. Those who receive it, those who receive His compassion and love, those who are able to bask in His longsuffering and endless kindness can do nothing but praise Him. When one says, “All I know is that I was blind, and now I can see,” the simplicity of the facts escapes those who seek power and prestige. For those who already and rightly possess it, as well as those who have compassion, who desire God’s will they can rejoice, they see the simple blessing that has a multitude of effects.
The man in John 9 is simply, “a man.” He is not a politician, he is not a great thinker, he is not a teacher, he is no one but a blind beggar. The cascading blessings of a man in John 9 who receives his eyesight are unfathomable and we can hardly understand them. Consider these: I was ostracized, now I am here and can worship. I could not read God’s word, now I can learn and share His truth. I could not contribute to our society, now I am able to work and help. I could only beg for alms, now I can help those in need and give. I could only wait for others generosity, now I can be merciful and bless by serving. I only had a limited life, now I can have a full life blessing others with the fruits of God’s gift to me.
Christian, do you see every day with this grateful and appreciative attitude that all you are able to do is a gift of God? Are you thankful for all the things you are able to accomplish through His grace? Fingers, toes, hands, feet, mind, body all are gifts for His service, to accomplish His will in your life.
