Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided. John 9:16 (NIV)
What is the religious scene like today? How many different denominations do we have? Even within each denomination, do we have people of divided opinions? The Pharisees drag this man before them who had been blind from birth until Jesus opened his eyes. They repeatedly question him. Some cannot accept that God would work in people outside of their way of thinking. Others have a slightly higher concept of God and wonder if God could be at work. But one thing they have in common is the fact that they all try to hold the cards. They would sit in the judgment seat. Do they think that they are the authorities on what God can and can´t do? Do we too think that we can sit back and say with all clarity that this is of God, but the other thing isn´t? Who made us more correct than the next guy?
Over and against this division we have the man who has been touched. This man has met Jesus. He has been healed. When they ask Him what opinion he has over Jesus, the only thing He can say is that He had come into contact with Someone from God! He testifies Jesus is a prophet. He ties Jesus to God because of what He has experience of Him. There is no other explanation. Only God can care so much for His children. Only God can show such mercy. Only God can show such power over evil and hurt. No other excuse will do. No other explanation needs to be sought. No more quarreling. No more questioning is needed. This man has the sweetest of all blessings. He has been touched. He is free to trust. He is free to love. What holds the rest of us back? Are we still clinging too tightly to the world we trust?
As long as we try to use the world as a rule, we are sure to have differences. As long as we look to our experience and our education here, we will always find somebody who has learned their lessons a little differently. Will it take the touch of Jesus in our lives to help us see beyond our surroundings? Will we all need to experience a true gesture from the Lord to get past our personal hang-ups? Will we need to see God in action and realize that He has moved in our lives, to truly focus ourselves upon Him? Will we need to experience the Son of God to finally look past the opinions of those around us? What will it take for us to move on to more important things? What do we need to realize before we can skip forward to praising and thanking God for His love and care? What will it take for us to stop being divided and start looking to Him now?
Dear Lord, how You must yearn for us to stop all our bickering! How intense is Your desire for us to look beyond our low earthly views? When will we realize that You are at work? When will we see that You are reaching out to touch us? Please help each of us! Let us sense Your Presence! Let Your touch set us free from our ways! Let the disease and impediments of our lack of sight be washed away! Let us experience You now! We are tired of asserting our own views. We want to pass beyond all this! We want to see You! Help us please we pray!
Amen
Searching For Christ 
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