‘After saying this, he spat 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.’ (vv6–7) John 9:1–11
As Christians, we enter into a partnership with God, which operates when we choose to obey and do as God directs. Here, the blind man discovers three things, still relevant today.
He learns that sin is not the source of sickness (v3). We are invited to discover the grace and goodness of God in all aspects of life.
This challenges many of the frames of reference we have adopted from our upbringing, education and assumptions about life. This is testing but offers one measure of the sincerity of our faith.
The next lesson is that God holds in His hands the true purpose of our life. This season on earth is not our destination, rather an opportunity to live as a witness to our creator and the kingdom that remains His to reveal.
One day we shall leave this mortal sphere and live for ever in the very presence of God. Mortality brings with it pain and challenge; can we trust God’s overarching purpose within it?
Finally, having encountered God, the man must respond and obey God’s instruction. It is perhaps an unusual method of healing, but he wants his sight and so enters the Pool of Siloam, built by a king who also experienced miraculous healing (2 Kings 20:20).
Whilst his sight returns, the critical sign is that God brings light to the darkness that surrounds us all – for God is light eternal – revealing the way we can discover the fullness of life.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Psa. 138; Eccl. 12:9–14; Matt. 16:24–27; 2 Cor. 12:5–10.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: How can you build an effective partnership with God, where your life and experience offers God the opportunity to reveal His kingdom today?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, help me daily to live out Your purpose through my life and bring glory to You. Amen.’
Photo by UN Women Asia and the Pacific on Flickr
