DAY 4

“Can our prayers change our circumstances? Absolutely! But when our circumstances don’t change, it’s often an indication that God is trying to change us. The primary purpose of prayer is not to change circumstances; the primary purpose of prayer is to change us!”

- Mark Batterson

TODAYS READING: John 9:1–5

PRAYER:"God, as I open myself up to you in these moments to read this passage fresh and anew, I ask that you reveal to me that which you would have me learn today. Help me see. More than that, I pray for transformation as I take what you show me and apply it to my life. Amen."

BLINDNESS vs SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

What is Spiritual Blindness?

Being spiritually blind means a person cannot see God or His works. A spiritually blind person cannot see the truth, or godly wisdom but believes in foolishness. They live a worldly life full of selfishness and sin because they have been deceived by the devil and are blindly following him.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

A man was born blind from birth, and the idea of that day was that any physical defects, suffering, calamity, etc were due to sins committed. This is why the question in verse 2 is brought up as to who sinned, the man or his parents. As man has done throughout time, the problem of evil (sin) and suffering is a common question. Why is this man suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad people succeed while good people suffer?

We live in a world where it appears that evil thrives and good suffers. Why is that? This is an issue itself that will require more time and space, but ultimately we learn in Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and other locations that blessings fall upon the good and evil, as well as how suffering falls upon the good and the evil. How we deal with this is ultimately how we must learn to focus. The issue is not why something happened, but the real question must become is, how can I (we) use the circumstances to honor God and be faithful to Him. We can focus on what we do have rather than what we do not.

In this particular setting, God used the circumstances of a blind man to bring Jesus and Himself honor, glory, and perform a miracle. When this happens in Scripture, the religious are baffled and want to know why, how, and who could do this.

Notice the responses of the people in chapter 9.

The first response comes from the neighbors. The neighbors who knew the blind man are surprised and are skeptical.

The second response comes from the Pharisees or the religious. The Pharisees do not believe and won’t listen due to their preconceived ideas about Jesus. Jesus healed on the Sabbath and that just blew their little religious minds. They had Him in a box and that He could not be Who He claimed to be. Their prejudices about Him kept them “blind” to the truth.

The third response comes from the parents of the blind man. They believed but were fearful of what the Pharisees would do to them (kick them out of the Temple/synagogue).

The final response comes from the formerly blind man who can now see. The formerly blind man spoke the truth as to what happened and steadily grew in his faith. Despite the questioning, his resolve and even his boldness grew. I love verses 25-38. The man saw past the question and called the religious out for it. He didn’t have all the answers, but he knew that he could see. He wasn’t focused on how Jesus did it, he just knew that he was changed.

Key Takeaway: As we grow closer to Jesus, we see things spiritually that we could not see before. When our eyes, physically and/or spiritually, are opened, we know that we had nothing to do with it. Trying to figure out the "why, how, and who" does not matter more than the work He is wanting to do in us. Just be grateful. This is a game-changer.

1. How did Jesus “set the record straight” about why the man in this story had been born blind?

2. What is the difference between praying away and praying through? Which types of these prayers do you tend to pray?

3. What is a situation in your life where you saw God change you through it rather than simply make the problem go away?

John 9:25 “I know this: I was blind, but now I can see.”

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