Hi
How do you feel about faith healings and inherited illnesses? Please consider today’s Holy Nougat™
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. John 9:3 NLT
A seemingly innocuous question leads to a very positive and powerfully profound response.
Prior to exploring Jesus’ statement, it may be a bit instructive to consider the implications of the background. A blind young man. Disabled since birth. Impaired visibility, possible social invisibility.
Not only was he considered a burden to his parents; but he was also considered proof of parental indiscretions or overt sinful actions on their part. For, with Numbers 14:18 and Ezekiel 18:2/Jeremiah 31:29, there was sufficient reason to assume that the young man’s blindness was punishment. Unfortunately, many of us still maintain this view of God as vindictive and punitive. However, illness is not about God’s discipline, for it is God’s desire that we should be well. In fact, both Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:18-19 indicate that healing IS God’s plan for our lives.
With that said, we acknowledge that God’s glory being revealed in dis-eased spaces might require our involvement. That is, our faith, our fervency and our fortitude.
In faith we anticipate God’s miraculous healing power in our lives and for those around us. As Christians, we’re called to fervent (and effectual) prayer which is life transforming. And, we must be focused; single-minded even, as we allow NOTHING to separate us from our belief that God will keep that which God has promised. That’s fortitude.
Perhaps it’s time for a paradigm shift. Rather than accept illness as normative, let us apply our faith as we anticipate God’s glory being revealed to the world. In so doing, not only will we see healings and miracles becoming our new normal, but perhaps we’ll begin to be marked by Great Things in our ministry (John 14:12-14).
In Christ, so let it be. Let the healing begin!
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
