Why Strangle Love?
As Jesus went along, He saw a man blind from birth. Jesus' disciples asked Him, ‘rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' (John 9:1-2)
Before the eyes of these able bodied men sat a beggar dusted in ancient middle-eastern heat and poverty, who:
- had felt the caressing warmth of the sun, yet was unable to describe its imposing heavenly presence,
- knew full well the delicate fragrances of a garden, yet could not testify to their bright and appealing display or
- had been utterly drenched in a downpour, yet never glanced a rainbow.
Far too quick to blame, these immature disciples jumped to judgement at another's mis-fortune. His congenital illness is as clear as the unhealthy thinking of Jesus' followers.#
Rash judgement is the enemy of tenderness & compassion. ~ Brennan Manning
Creating wine, walking on water or feeding the gathered masses would always be insufficient for this love-filled messiah. The Light of the World gifted light to he who had no light.
Jesus had healed a blind man but also some very blind thinking.
You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune... (Obadiah 1:12a)
This blindness was not seeded in sin. His blindness was to demonstrate ‘that the work of God might be displayed in his life' (see John 9:3).
Who benefitted most by this miraculous demonstration; God Himself, the man born blind or the disciples? Yet - does this message also pass the test of time?
2000 years on, beware the accusing, judgemental Pharisee/disciple within - this raucous enemy of love that strangles hearts.
Today's Soul Snippet:
A domesticated Christianity means a neutered Christ.
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#Suffering is clearly linked to sin in scripture (see Ps 107:17, Jn 5:14, 1 Cor 11:29-30), but sin does not explain all malady. Making Sense of the personal aspects of suffering - READ MORE
ENJOY ~ 18 Original Ways of Love