December 01, 2021 – Wednesday
Matthew 20: 4:11 NIV
30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Comment.
After yesterday’s look at 1 Thessalonians 4:11 about making it your ambition to lead a quiet life, I was curious about other uses of the word quiet and the verses above were the first that caught my interest. The reason it caught my attention was I once attended a Hispanic service which was translated for me in real time. I was impressed on how the pastor was exhorting his congregation to turn to Jesus if they had not already done so. He said (if I recall correctly), If you do not call upon Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are more blind than these two blind men sitting by the roadside.
I could only completely agree with their pastor. Consider the following three verses v32-34, Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
So many of us are (or were) blind to so much of what goes on in own lives. We think we must look a certain way or dress a certain way or act a certain way without ever considering what God wants for us in our lives. We are able to see only what the world wants us to see and not see what God has to offer or share with us. Oh, we think we much have a car or a home or a spouse or children or a career or money/wealth or … and the list goes on and on without end. It is the world doing its best to blind us to what God can show us and share with us.
God first of all wants to remove the world’s blinders so we can see His wonders as His wonders. Some examples are the first snowfall, leaves falling in the fall, the singing of birds, enjoying the smell of coffee in the morning, enjoying a cool breeze on a hot day, listening to the music of leaves in the trees as the wind speed goes up and down and on and on once our eyes are opened. This morning I walked outside shortly after sunrise and enjoyed stretching in the open air and then watching the ‘smoke’ of my breath as if I were 10 years old again. After giving thanks I went back inside where I gave thanks for the breakfast my bride of 50 years made for me.
The question is what do you want Jesus to do for you? There was no hesitation by the blind men sitting outside the new Jericho. They replied, “Lord, we want our sight.” For us, we are not physically blind, instead we are often spiritually blind unable to see what God has put right in front of us. Our reply or prayer might be, “Lord we want to see what You and You alone can open our eyes to see, the wonder of God’s works all around us every day.”
The choice is ours. We can remain blind to the wonders of God, especially that of His Son, or we can turn to Him and have our blindness healed. If we choose to have our blindness healed or have our blinders removed, we will find ourselves open to more and more of His wonders the rest of our lives.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for opening my eyes to Your wonders here on earth and also look forward to Your incredible wonders in heaven. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton in Beavercreek