Playing By God's Rules
Thursday - March 26 - Read John 9:18-25
John 9:18-25 (ESV)
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
Some people do not believe that Jesus is God because his resurrection is a miracle. They argue that miracles do not happen because everything must have a “natural” cause. To them the laws of nature do not allow for the possibility of a God. Before they even consider the evidence they rule out the possibility of an event. Then when the evidence is presented to them they just dismiss it our of hand, just like in this passage. But what if the God who created the laws of nature in the first place decided to suspend them? Why couldn’t God do that? If I write a song and play that song on the piano then I can stop playing for a second to change something or completely rewrite the song altogether. It is my creation to do with as I wish. The point is that we humans constantly demand that God play by our rules. We like to think we know what is best and often God's activity just does not seem to fit into our plans. But God will not sit idly by and let us dictate to Him. When it comes to giving away His grace, mercy, forgiveness and love God will not be compelled to "play by the rules." He will give away forgiveness and love freely. His one-way love is His to give as He sees fit and he has chosen to give it to us! Thanks be to God.
Prayer:
Merciful Lord, my greatest sin is trying to take control as if I am God. Please forgive me for my pride and desire to "run the show." Your will be done in my life and in this world so that I might experience greater peace and joy and live in service to my family, friends, and neighbors. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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