The Christmas Spirit increases in pace at this time of the year inspiring this poem at my other blog Step Ahead.
Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”- Romans 1:17
This day with God, read the Word, believe, and worship. As discussed in “Live by Faith”, the evidence to know Jesus is God comes from the witnesses of His life as documented in the Gospel, from sermons, from Sunday school lessons, from those that talk or sing about Him, and experiences in your own life.
Receive the evidence, live by faith, and worship today with the song Jesus I Believe by Big Daddy Weave. Like the song says, believe and feel the presence of Jesus. Once spiritually blind but now able to see, listen to the voice of Truth continuing to direct you to this new and improved reality.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Jesus is the living Word of God so every time we read the Word, God is with us to illuminate all we need to know about holiness and guidance as we step ahead along the path. This day with God, we read the Word, believe, and worship.
From reading earlier in this chapter, we know that Jesus gave sight to a man that had been blind from birth. Many Pharisees were blind to the Truth and didn’t believe. They said Jesus had worked and healed on the Sabbath, therefore could not be from God because He did not keep the Sabbath.
The Pharisees were spiritually blind because they didn’t accept the evidence that Jesus is from God. To disprove that Jesus was from God, the Pharisees went to the parents of the former blind man to see if he had actually been blind from birth. In John 9:18-41, we note that the parents of the former blind man refused to give much information about their son because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.
The Jewish leaders would censor anyone who spoke about the Truth, but the former blind man and beggar continued to tell the truth. The truth that Jesus had opened his eyes and gave him sight (v. 30). He explains that Jesus must be from God because of the miracle of giving him sight. The Pharisees didn’t want to hear the truth so they threw the former blind man out of the synagogue (v. 34).
When the former blind man found out who Jesus is, he believed and worshiped the Lord as explained in verse 38. This should inspire us to do the same. The evidence to know Jesus is God comes from the witnesses of His life as documented in the Gospel, from sermons, from Bible study groups, from those that talk or sing about Him, and from the experiences of our own life.
This day with You God, we are thankful that You have gone to extreme measures to help us believe. Yet, there are times when we still have doubt. We have all the evidence but still have anxiety. At this moment, let us believe and receive so we can step ahead with faith. Each step giving more assurance, purpose, and courage until we live by faith in each moment throughout each day. Holy Spirit is now directing us and we are prepared for the challenges of this day because we have received the power in the name of Jesus, amen.
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. – Deuteronomy 4:9
As we noticed in reading God’s word and sharing thoughts in “Seeing Things with New Eyes”, the work of God is on display when Jesus healed the man born blind. Today, if we pay close attention, we can also see God’s work on display. Take every opportunity to notice it and report it to others.
You may notice God at work in a song like Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave – God is in the Story. Like the song says, see a future in which God is always with you even in the storms. In weakness, trust in Jesus. You are not alone as Holy Spirit directs your steps.
Much of life is directed by the low standards of this world rather than seeing God’s higher standard. The world wants us to be molded by movies, social media, advertisements, and worldly pleasures. This day with God, let us see things with new eyes of faith, hope, and love so we have a vision that prepares us for the future.
Reading today in John 9:1-17. It was late in the evening as Jesus and his disciples were walking from the temple grounds after the Festival of Tabernacles in Judea where He had been teaching. They came upon a beggar who had been blind his whole life. The disciples wanted to know why the man had been born blind and if it was because of his parent’s sin.
Jesus used this as a teaching moment. He put some mud on the man’s eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam (v. 7). The blind man did as Jesus told him to do and went home seeing. The blind man told his neighbors what had happened and also told the Pharisees who were still trying to accuse Jesus of something. They wanted to know because this all happened on the Sabbath. Many Pharisees believed that Jesus could not be from God because Jesus could not keep the Sabbath. Since He had worked and healed on the Sabbath
But it was the work of God on display when Jesus healed the man born blind. Today, if we pay close attention, we can also see God’s work on display. This day with God, take every opportunity to notice it and share with others.
This day with You Lord, we trust You for our seeing. We note what we hear, what we feel, and what we see. We opt-in to win as we believe in Your plan that is written in our hearts and ready to share with others about how we can live life victoriously together in the name of Jesus, amen.
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This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 