Good day dear friends. The delicious sound of rain outside here in SM sounds great! This must be the same rain we had in Denton yesterday morning as we had traveled to see our little one in TWU. Thank you, Lord for the rain! We need it, so keep it coming!
We continue to affirm that there is a God even in the midst of so much pain and suffering. I know many hearts broke yesterday at the news of the death of Steve Irwin. Though our family did not know him personally, we watched his shows and learned a lot about nature through him. May the Lord comfort his family and two small children. May the Lord be with all who mourn and need comforting. On our return last evening we saw several serious car accidents along I-35 and we pray for all involved.
Here is our study guide: Tuesday: John 9:2-7 shares the story about a blind man. Read this passage and see if what the disciples are asking Jesus isn’t something we sometimes ask ourselves. Who causes the evil and suffering in the world?
Here is that passage from John 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
Indeed the question asked by the disciples is something we sometimes wonder or ask, what has caused the physical ailments of some people? In this case the disciples think it had to have been either the man himself or his parents, through some horrible sin, that caused his blindness. Jesus answers the truth: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Now this does raise the question, did God cause this man to be born blind since birth simply to perform this miracle or was that a way of answering their question with the miracle about to follow as the fullness of the explanation? In my belief God does not cause blindness, it is something that happens through an accident or lack of care for oneself. For a child to be born it had to have been some defect in the child caused by nature, but the good news was that on that day that he encountered Jesus he was delivered from blindness to sight!
We don't know the why of so much suffering in the world. Some of it is just plain evil done by humans ourselves. Leaving Dallas we were listening to a talk show and the director of one of the animal rescue agencies came on to talk about a female dog that was doused with a flammable substance and then set on fire. The dog survived by will require surgery and very delicate care. The person or persons who caused this poured that same substance in the dog's ears and she suffered burns inside her ears. This is just evil. And you could probably compile of list of even worse things.
We again affirm what we did on Sunday, though we may not be able to explain the why of suffering, we do know the Who who stands by us and that is God Himself. Some things will remain a mystery and may trouble us the rest of this life, but one day we will see face to face and deeply and fully understand all things. And when that day comes we will experience God's love in a even greater, hard to imagine way.
PRAYER: God stand with me today and all days. I seek to do Your will and to follow Your guidance. I desire no harm to come to anyone and I would pray I could be a part of healing and comfort in the lives of those who may need me. Thank you for this rain. Bless us the dryness of our souls and let us seek to be a refreshing blessing to someone today. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
