Read: John 9
Remember my Mother's Day plant? You know, the one that I received as a gift from our church in a starter pot? The one I promised to repot in a few days? Well, I am ashamed to admit this, but that plant stayed in the starter pot for four months! I finally felt sorry for it and put it out of its misery. My family has officially dubbed me, "The Plant Murderer." This is not the first perennial to succumb from the efforts of my green thumb, nor the first time my botanical prowess has been questioned!
Before the unfortunate passing of my flowering friend, I noticed something very interesting that was taking place. At first, the plant was lush and healthy. Numerous new leaves sprouted, and blossoms were sturdy and large. The colors of both the leaves and flowers were radiant. But as time wore on, the plant's production of leaves gradually diminished and their quality and size became inferior to what was previously produced. The leaf color began to fade to where it looked bleached or washed out. Flowers ceased to be produced at all! It seemed that the plant was able to thrive under one set of conditions but withered and died under the other. In our reading for this month, we observe two conditions of the heart - one that allows for growth and one that does not.
One Sabbath, Jesus was moving about in His ministry when He happened upon a man who had been born blind. He made a mixture of mud and saliva, put it on the man's eyes and instructed him to go wash them in the Pool of Siloam. Upon his obedience, the man's eyes were opened. The Pharisees heard about what Christ had done and began to inquire about the particulars of this miracle. They questioned the man, his parents, then the man again. Becoming insulted at the man's amazement at their skepticism, the Pharisees threw him out in a hail of insults. Jesus found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He replied, "Who is he, sir. Tell me so that I may believe in Him." When Jesus told him that He was the One, the man believed and worshiped Him.
The benefactor of the miracle of sight had a heart that was open to new things. He approached the Lord with a desire to know more. He approached with an understanding that he did not know everything about God, nor had he seen everything God could do, or experienced everything God was capable of. This man walked away a worshiper of the Lord. His brokenness caused him to experience the presence of the Almighty.
On the other hand, the Pharisees were totally closed to the move of God. They were not the least bit interested in the miracle that had just occurred. Their questioning of the man was solely to find some infraction on the part of Jesus as pertained to the keeping of the law. They considered themselves experts in the law and were not open to be taught. This is evidenced by the statement Jesus made in verse 41, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." Their hard hearts produced a spiritual blindness that resulted in their missing the very One they were looking for.
We have a choice as to which type of heart we will present to the Lord. A hungry heart, one that craves for more of the Lord, will walk away satisfied. That soul becomes a worshiper and will continue to thrive. A hardened heart is not hungry because it is full of itself. There is no room or desire for more of God. Consequently, that soul's growth is stunted and eventually dries up. Which do you choose to be?
Prayer
Father, in the Name of Jesus, we are grateful for the promise that Your mercies are new every morning. Prepare in us a heart that is receptive to Your voice and accepting of Your ways. Grant us the discernment necessary to be aware of what You desire to do in us, and a yieldedness to move out in what You desire to do through us. Amen.
