The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time, it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So, they put him out. John 9:30-34
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1John 3:2-3
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
When we are not truly in step with the Spirit through self-surrender, etc., bold attempts to reach the world often exude an arrogance of one who has arrived. The arrogance of the Pharisees in our John passage gushes out in the words, “are you teaching us?” Not only do they think they have arrived, but they really don’t think others can arrive nor do they want them to. Spiritual boldness is incarnational. We are not off in the distance standing on the train station platform having already arrived at the destination. We are on the train with those around us sharing in the journey of life as ones who are in process, still traveling, still moving toward the destination. Spiritual boldness comes readily to the one who knows that His life will help others look to God for spiritual direction because those others will be able to see that he is continuing to do the very same thing.
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, forgive me for the self-righteousness I so easily get caught up in. Help me always to remember that spiritual growth is a lifetime thing. I know that I am on a journey and that I am on that journey with everyone around me. No one is beneath me and I am never too good to come close to someone and share in the journey of life with them. Grant me true spiritual boldness for living fully for you in these ways. Amen!
