Believer?

Matthew 9:27–31 (NASB 95)

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.

Examine / Explain

Two blind men in the streets of Capernaum were able to hear Jesus and the stories about him to have enough faith to know that He was the Messiah. They understood that He was of the line of David; they also understood that He could heal their blindness. Jesus touched their eyes and stated that they were receiving their sight because of their faith. Jesus also instructed the men not to share what He had done for them, but they disobeyed Him and shared the good news anyway.

How do I apply this to my life?

Here we go again! What do I believe? The passage doesn’t say these men were around Jesus where he performed any miracles. Only that they knew He was the Christ, through the line of David. Also, I find it interesting that Jesus did not address any sin or forgiveness with these men in these miracles.  He only asked, do you believe I am who I say I am? In their answer, they confess that He is the Christ. I think it’s the same question we need to ask ourselves about Jesus. Do we believe He is who he said He is? If so, does our life reflect that? These men went proclaiming the good news throughout the streets of Capernaum. What do we proclaim? Do we shout from the streets of Lake Charles that Jesus is Lord? Or do we quietly sit at our places of income, not sharing what He has done or who he is? On top of that, we are the “good Christians” who are at church every Sunday, Wednesday, or every time the door is open, and yet we look down on those who are broken and need help and do nothing. We are stuck in our religiousiosity and not living out a relationship. We do not believe in God for anything of value. We put more faith in our jobs and income than we do in the One who owns cattle on a thousand hills. We put more faith in getting “a fix” so we can unwind from the day than trusting the Creator of the Universe, who made it day and night. My view of God, Jesus, and the Spirit is so limited. I want to blame it on being human and having a finite mind. But I look back through history, and the men are of great faith who believed in spite of being human and facing massive adversity in their lives. Also, I still battle with it. I believe God will do great things in your life, not mine. I am still unworthy of His love. NEWS FLASH: we are all unworthy of His love, yet He still lavishes it on us. Not to fall into a prosperity gospel but also to say He can pour out so many blessings on us, and we take them with excitement and say, “What a great God we serve.” But in a low season, we cry and beat our chest. “Where are you, God?” Does my faith depend on the things I get? Does my faith depend on the adversity I have in my life? Does my faith depend on how blessed the ministry he put me in is being “successful?” What do I believe? Can He still heal blind people? Can He still forgive sins? Can my faith say “move” and it is done? When I do only what the Father asks, yes. Because He is willing to do the things He has already set in motion, I have to see it. I need my spiritual blindness to be healed. I need to see what He sees so I can do the things He wants me to do. I must step out in faith! Does it mean I won’t fail? No! Does it mean it will be easy? No! Does it mean God is great in all situations? Absolutely!

What is my response?

Father, I believe You can open my eyes! I want to see the greatness of who You are! I know it means I am going to get dirty. Your Son lived a life that allowed the messiness of life to come to Him for hope, healing, and salvation. I think of the scene from The Chosen when Jesus was preaching to the five thousand and the disciples were echoing his words to the back of the crowd. I look at that and place it on top of all history. All believers should echo your words to those around them at their moment in history. Some disciples are even close enough to hear each other at their point in history. Lord, am I echoing Your word? Do I believe every word that You spoke? I must! Then why do I struggle with believing You for good things? I am the lost sheep. I am the prodigal son. I am the found coin. You call me son, yet all I can see is a hired hand. Rip this blindness from my eyes. Allow me to see myself as a son! Help me accept what You have called me to be. I want to believe! I want to believe! I want to believe!