{"id":17352,"date":"2019-04-08T12:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T17:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.anglicandioceseja.org\/?p=17352"},"modified":"2019-04-08T13:03:36","modified_gmt":"2019-04-08T18:03:36","slug":"believing-in-god-who-believes-in-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anglicandioceseja.org\/copy\/believing-in-god-who-believes-in-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Believing in God – Who Believes in Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, \u201cRabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?\u201d Jesus answered, \u201cNeither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God\u2019s works might be revealed in him.<\/em> John 9:1-3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a Moment to Ponder<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

God sees<\/em> us, not to pass judgment, but as ones through whom God\u2019s activity in the world can be revealed. God believes in us. Do we trust God\u2019s judgement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\nencountered a man born blind. He was locked out of the social and religious\ncommunity, unable to fully help himself, dependent on others. Perhaps we would\nsay he was unimportant \u2013 but for God, the man was a vital part of the story of\nthe reconciliation of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He represents\nall who need to have their \u2018eyes\u2019 opened by Jesus. Those who may have chosen\ntheir own path and are headed in the wrong direction. Those who never think\nthat they are good enough. Those who need to have a personal encounter with\nJesus and come to faith. He represents us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus\nused dirt and his saliva to make mud and placed it on the man\u2019s eyes and gave\nhim instructions to go and wash, the man had a choice. He could have stayed\nwhere he was in his blindness (possibly angry that Jesus had dirtied him up and\nwas now making demands of him), or he could trust Jesus and believe that what\nhe had done and what he was instructing him to do would bring about\nrestoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man chose\nto believe in Jesus. He acted. Through him God worked to show us what it means\nto be made whole by Christ. He was vital for God\u2019s plan of salvation, and so\nare we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we continue to discern where and how God desires to use us, may we prayerfully place ourselves in God\u2019s hands in total trust, as we follow him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Action<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The season of\nBible studies have no doubt stirred us up to rethink our actions and our\nrelationships with each other, but as these come to an end, what is next for\nus? How has God been calling us to be channels to show God\u2019s grace, mercy and\nlove in our communities? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can we become\nan encouraging presence to help those who are struggling to identify God\u2019s call\non their lives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What act of trust is God calling us to do today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Moment in Prayer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

God who journeys with us, we give thanks for your presence in our lives and our world. Enable us we pray, to place our trust in you as we follow the path you have laid out for us. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contributed by: Rev. Natalie Blake<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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