John 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Classic example of Analysis Paralysis?!? Both Jesus and the disciples saw the blind man. While disciples made him a social experiment to clarify their theology/doctrinal position, Jesus saw the blind man's desperate need. Jesus saw through the eyes of His heart while disciples saw through the eyes of their flesh. One led to action and the other led to futile theological discussion. Knowing whose sin really caused this blindness has nothing to contribute to addressing the real need of the blind man.
Quite often, we spend so much of time to figure out why rather than crying for mercy on someone's behalf. Like disciples, we have our own theological reasons for it. We seldom remember that there is nothing beyond the reach of His grace. Like His disciples, we may live with Jesus Himself, we may hear Him preach and teach day in and day out, we may see Jesus act in kindness or work miracles; yet still blind in our heart.
Disciples knew the Law, they believed in Jesus, the Messiah, they studied in the school of Jesus every day, prayed with Him every day; yet their lives remain unchanged. Their mind/intellect was probably saturated with scripture and prayers, yet their nature, their life, their thinking did not change. Disciples learnt well but knowledge is nothing but a pile of facts. They failed to discern with their heart. Without change of heart, life never changes.
Dearly beloved, hours Bible reading, relentless prayers, prophecy over others, working miracles or even casting demons; all could take you far from God unless your heart is in the right place leading to the right action. Jesus called it all 'lawlessness'.
Matt 7: 21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Well, we have accepted Jesus, we trust in salvation through Him alone, yet we may still be far from Him. We are blind at heart unless we love, see, act and live like Jesus. What does that even mean? It means, the kindness of the Savior in our heart, His compassion for people in our heart, His desire to act for others drives our heart, His love for one another defines and dictates our daily walk.
Disciples ended up in analysis paralysis while Jesus did something about it. Life is something that happens while we are too busy busy planning for it. How do you see life? In the busyness
of life, do you fail to pay attention to people around you like Jesus?
If this could happen to the disciples who were in physical and spiritual proximity to Jesus, it could happen to any of us. In their mind, they were close to Jesus but in their heart they were far from Him. His Love is poured into our hearts through Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Just take time to be deliberate and intentional in showing the world what Jesus's love looks like.
Have a blessed day and week ahead!
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