“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “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. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So, the man went and washed and came back seeing! His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg? “Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So, I went and washed, and now I can see!” (John 9:1-11 NLT)
I’m just going to stay with this “Be” series this morning, and perhaps tomorrow. We have focused on “Be Yourself,” and “Be Different” the last couple of days. This morning we want to make sure you are specific, clearly understood, when you explain to people that you are not like you used to be. We want to provide you with the answer you should give to people who wonder what you mean when they hear you walking around singing, “I know I’ve been changed.”
For just as sure as today is Tuesday, somebody from your past who knew you “back when” you were wild, wayward, willy-nilly as it related to faith, and walking on the wide path that leads to destruction, that somebody will try to pull you back in to talking about all those days where you did what would fall under “my will” and not ‘God’s will.” Maybe not today, but you will find yourself confronted by people that remember your days of mischief, marching to the beat of the drum being played, the blaring, pounding sounds of living beings who keep beat with the rhythm of the street, and are in harmony with the chords of sin. Yes, someone will reach back into the past and question whether you still do this or if you still do that, things you regret doing and you are no longer doing. Why are you not doing “this or that” anymore? Let’s be clear! It is because you have been changed! So, testify, be clear about it, much like the man in the opening passage. And listen now! Sometimes you don’t even have to wait to be asked about your noticeable change, but without being prompted or provoked, you just use the opportune time to provide insight as to why you are different, and why you are being yourself, your new self. The answer is brief but succinct, sufficiently short, but it will stir up serious thoughts in the minds of the persons asking the question. The answer: Jesus! Yes, “Jesus!” He is the One who changed you and continues to change you for the better. He is the One who stopped you on your B.C. Road, your “Before Christ Road,” and placed you on a new road, you’re “A.D. Road,” your “After deliverance Road,” after Jesus came into your life!
My friend, be clear in your answer. For people need to know who brought about such a positive change in your life. People may even need to be given a response so they will take a closer look and focus on how they see you in the right now and no longer living in the wrong lanes of life, as you may have done in the past. So, my “Be” challenge for you this morning is to be reactive as well as proactive and especially be sure to point to Jesus as the One who changed you. Be clear! Be blessed!
“Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives. But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus, we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” (Galatians 4:1-7 The Message Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King