“In the ninth chapter of John’s gospel,” Stan began, “there’s an interesting story about a man who had been blind from birth.”
“What did you find so interesting about him?” I asked.
“There are a number of things,” Stan replied. “Too many to cover all at once. We would be here all day! Let’s just focus on them in small bites.”
“Whatever you want,” I said. “What’s the first one?”
“As a general matter,” Stan replied, “it’s the subject of asking why things happen the way they do, and the importance for me to ask that question.”
“Like, why was this guy born blind?” I asked.
“Or, maybe, why did God wake me up this morning?” Stan responded with a smile.
“And is there an answer?” I replied.
“Jesus said so,” Stan said, “He said that it was so the works of God could be displayed.”
“In the man?” I asked. “In you?”
“Absolutely,” Stan replied. “As to the man and how Jesus healed his blindness, we will talk about that later. But the essential point I want to make as it relates to me and my faith walk, is that I believe I am to look at everything God is doing and ask the simple question of ‘Why?’”
Continuing, he said, “I believe that if I don’t take the time to try to see what God is doing in a particular situation, I am going to miss out on a lot of opportunities to be involved with the works that God is doing.”
“And how He wants you to be involved with what He is doing?” I asked.
“Exactly, my friend,” Stan replied.
Continuing, he added, “I believe that this is the whole point of why God has left me on this side of eternity. I am to be involved in what He is doing so that others can see the works of God. Not the works of Stan, but the works of God, so that their lives and eternal destinations can be impacted by what they see.”
“But,” Stan concluded, “if I don’t take the time to ask why God is doing such and such, I will miss lots of opportunities to be involved in the such and such of what He is doing. And it will be my loss.”
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. . . it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that your will and purposes will be accomplished on earth as they are in heaven. Thank you, too, that you want me to be involved with what you are doing to accomplish your works. I confess that too often I do not see what you are doing because I do not bother to look. Please forgive me. And please help me in following every step of your lead so that I not only see what you are doing to display your works, but that I will choose to be involved in what you are doing to whatever extent you want. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Think on this: What does it look like for you to be attentive to what God is doing so you can be involved with Him and what He is doing? This applies particularly to what He is doing with you. How do you join Him in that?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
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