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I Can See!

I Can See!
Words of Faith 11-17-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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John 9
[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.
[8] His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" [9] Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
[10] "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
[11] He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
[12] "Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.

There could hardly be an experience as dramatic as having sight restored. But how much more dramatic to have sight given that had never been there!
This man was born blind. He had never seen the face of his mother or father. He had never gazed upon a sunrise or sunset. Day and night varied not by light and darkness but by noise and quiet. His whole life he had depended on the mercy of his family and neighbors. So, after obeying Jesus and washing in the Pool, it must have been overwhelming to suddenly see the things and the people that he had only heard and smelled before.
Somehow this man made his way back toward home. People were puzzled as they realized that this man who had always been a blind beggar could now see. His physical appearance may have actually been altered if his eyes had previously been clouded over. Even more significant must have been his confident stride through the crowded streets as he looked about at the sights and greeted people he had only known by voice.
It is also hard to imagine that he did not have quite a smile on his face! Some were so surprised that they debated if this was the same man at all! When asked, he reassured them that indeed, he was the man born blind who now could see.
Of course such events cause a stir. An explanation was in order. How had this happened? He did not know. All that he knew was that the man they call Jesus made some mud to put on his eyes. He was told to wash in the pool. He did so and now he could see. He did not even know where Jesus was. Of course, he had never actually seen Jesus! Jesus could have been anyone in the crowd and the man could not have identified Him except perhaps by His voice.
The truth is that people rarely understand the marvelous working of God in our lives. How do you explain something so wonderful as moving from blindness to sight? From darkness to light? Words fail.
The same difficulty exists when we attempt to describe our spiritual rebirth. The truth is that we are all born spiritually blind. We have no way of discerning light and darkness. When God opens our eyes we are at a loss to describe how it happened. When God floods the darkness that was our life with His amazing Light, the joy is difficult to express.
Like the man born blind, we were totally helpless and apart from His mercy we would know nothing of the Light. We would not even know what to long for! The man did not earn or deserve His sight. It was a gift. Friends are baffled and neighbors may question if we are the same person.
It may sound corny, but the real question here is “Have you seen the Light?” Has He spoken into the darkness of your life and told you to go and wash? Have you walked in obedience to His direction? Has He removed the blindness that kept you from seeing the things of God? If so, you probably have found it difficult to describe. Friends may have reacted with puzzlement. Just know you are not alone.

Lord, thank You for Your Light, which shines into the darkness. Thank You for the call to obedience. Give me the grace to respond and the words to testify. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.