It’s Monday, August 7, 2023. Good morning and welcome to our devotional time together. This one small daily discipline is huge when it comes to our growth in Christ. Today, we learn to run, even when we cannot see the finish line. But we, however, have a promise that accompanies us to keep us faithful. Read on …
Today's Reading:
Zephaniah 1,2,3; John 9
Scripture
“After saying that, He spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and out it on the man’s eyes. ‘Go,’ He told him, ‘and wash in the Pool of Siloam’. So, the man went and washed, and came home seeing.’” (John 9:6)
Observation
Jesus encounters a blind man along the road. This will not be the most cultured exchange when it comes to healing a man who could not see. Neither was it a medical procedure that most physicians would follow today. Nevertheless, while others were using this man’s plight to develop a political or moral agenda (see verse 2), Jesus makes some mud and slathers it on the man’s eyes. Then He tells him to find the pool of Siloam and rinse it off.
But he was already blind! It seems like Jesus was making sure that he could see even less. Yet He rubs mud on the affected area as if to communicate that only God can bring clear sight out of this mess.
Then Jesus orders him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. How far was this “pool?” A block? Two blocks? No one knows, but in either case, the man is still blind. Now he has two mud packs to boot, and he has to grope his way, searching for this pool to shower.
I wonder what he was thinking on the way … when He had a promise without results?
Application
There will be seasons when I must run with a promise alone—a promise that God gave me some time ago—and I am still on my way to the pool. The space in-between tests my commitment to His word, where there are no results, no end in sight, no proof, and no guarantee except His word.
I’m sure people scratched their heads as he stumbled by on his way to the pool. I’m certain he was accompanied by doubts that joined the journey, but he pressed onward.
There will be many seasons when I must stay the course between the mud treatment and the pool. I must be able to run, not only with a promise but with doubts dogging my heels and “Run in such a way that I win!” (see 1 Cor. 9:24)
Prayer
Father, thank You for cheering us on. Although I am in-between, please help me never to be betwixt and confused. Keep me certain that You will be true to what You have promised, even though, for now, the finish line is only clear as mud. Yet, the eyes of my heart will stay wide open, and I will see You cheering me on.
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