Daily Read - 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15; John 9:1-41; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 15:15-17
The Entire Chapter of John 9
This chapter explodes with amazing revelation and truth. There are so many messages from the heart of God in such a few short verses. Jesus takes the reader on a journey of truth using the miraculous to confront the religious.
Throughout the story, religiosity coupled with its legalistic twin taunts, torments, and interrogates all the characters. Of course, Jesus being intimidated by no one, heals a blind man and in so doing, literally spits in the eyes of these evil twins creating quite the reaction from the Pharisees.
A spiritual battle ensues between the forces of hard-line religion and the Kingdom of God. Rather than rejoicing with the man who received his eyesight, the Pharisees went on a mission to disprove not only the miracle, but to build a case against Christ.
The religious hierarchy interrogates the parents of this man to such a degree it brings them into fear. When they didn't get the answers they wanted from them, they turned to the one healed telling him Jesus was a sinner and could not have healed him. In response, this very wise man said,
"Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began, it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." In retaliation to this response, the Pharisees excommunicated him. Religion so blinded them, they could not see the miracle that stood before them.
Nothing quenches and stops the flow of God in our lives quicker than a religious and legalistic mindset. How many marvelous works of God go unseen because we refuse to let go of
old time religion. Each of us must guard our hearts against the diabolical effects of this horrendous stronghold.
The days are fast approaching when the Spirit of the Living God will pour out on all flesh. His Glory and man's religion don't mix, they never have and the line separating the two will become more distinguishable in the days ahead. Ask the Lord to remove all blinders from your eyes that keep you from truly seeing His miracle working power in your life. Turn aside from dead religion and run into the arms of His living revelation.
Open your eyes and you will see!