His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said he was, and others said, "No, he just looks like him!" But the beggar kept saying, "Yes, I am the same one!" They asked, "Who healed you? What happened?" He told them, "The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.' So I went and washed, and now I can see!" "Where is he now?" they asked. "I don't know," he replied.
— John 9:8-12 NLT
Key Thought
How often have you judged someone simply based on his or her appearance? The folks who were supposed to be the neighbors of this man Jesus healed knew him only as a label. That label was based on his physical blindness and his need to beg. They never spent enough time to move beyond the label to the man. They didn't know him, only his label. They didn't bother to befriend him because he was a blind beggar. Before we become self-righteous, let's ask how different we are! We all need to ask ourselves: Do I make unfair assumptions about people based on external appearances? Do I use labels to push people away so that I do not have to deal with them in everyday life?
Today's Prayer
Father, please forgive me. I confess that many times I do not view people as you do. I find myself dismissing them based on external appearances, so I don't have to involve myself in their lives. Father, I don't want to use my time with folks who won't change. However, dear Father, I also don't want to neglect to bless anyone that you send my way including anyone that has not yet experienced your grace. Please give me the wisdom to know how to balance the two responses so that I do what you would have me do in the life of anyone I meet. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
- 1 John 3:16-17
- James 2:12-13
- Luke 10:29-37
About This Devotional
What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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