Wednesday, November 1
Blame vs. opportunity
Scripture: John 9
John 9:1–4 Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?”3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him.4 We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work.”
Observation
Jesus’ disciples saw a blind man and wanted to assign blame: “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” Their theology made a direct link between sin and suffering. While that is sometimes the case, it isn’t universal.
Jesus responded by refusing to assign blame, and instead treated it as an opportunity to be seized. This was an opportunity to do God’s work, and the time to do it is limited. Jesus healed the man knowing that he would be evidence that Jesus is the light of the world.
I’m not ignoring the considerable theological issues raised here, but want to focus on this idea that the disciples moved to blame while Jesus moved to opportunity.
Application
It is so easy to move to the blame side of the equation. “Whose fault is this?” It is rarely productive. Far better to move to the opportunity side: “What does God want to do in this situation? How can I work with Him?”
That is my challenge today. Move past blame to opportunity. Get to the solution side. Discern what God is up to and go there with Him!
Prayer: Lord, I love You, and I’d like to follow Jesus in this way: help me get past blame and get to opportunity, to see what You want to do and do it with You!