Jesus Healed the Blind

John 9:1-7 (KJV) 1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

The man, blind from birth, was gloriously healed by Jesus. This is an inspiring text for our spiritual strengthening.

Jesus Is the Light of Life

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Jesus imparts a newness of life to them that follow Him. They shall have the light of life. That light speaks of purification from the pollution of sin. That “light”, the life that He imparts, enables them to live an overcoming life over the corruption of sin, which Jesus depicted as darkness.

Jesus is that true Light and He bids us experience that joy that comes with a holiness of life that He alone can impart. Jesus had just freed the woman who was caught in adultery from the bondage of sin when He said to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)What power, what glory is uttered in those compassionate words to the guilty sinner. There is a way out of the dreary of sin when He bids us to follow Him – He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.

Walking in the snare of darkness is contrasted with walking in the light of life. One offers freedom and the other suffers bondage. One offers everlasting joy and the other perpetual misery. And wisdom, obviously, is to choose the freedom of the light of life.

I Must Tell Jesus

– An Answer to a Heart Cry

Elisha A. Hoffman (1839-1929), an evangelical pastor, wrote almost two thousand gospel hymns, including, “Are You Washed in the Blood?,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” and “Glory to His Name.”

He tells how he came to write the words of one of his most popular hymns, “I Must Tell Jesus.”

“There was a woman to whom God permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question, “Brother Hoffman, what shall I do? What shall I do?” I quoted from the word, then added, “You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.”

Mothers

The word “mother” has been eulogized, usually by poets, story and song writers, almost more than any other word – rightly so. But where can there be found words to describe one’s mother? What adjectives can portray her infinite patience, her unfailing tenderness, her loving care, her amazing self-sacrifice, her wonderful understanding, her intense loyalty?

A little fellow bounding into the living room said, “I like my home so much!” A visiting lady asked why he liked his home better than hers. For a moment the lad paused, then ran to his mother, threw his arms around her and said, “I guess it’s you, Mom!” Oh, what is home without a mother! The affection of friends or family may be estranged, but Mother’s love abides to the end.

Nowadays when the godless element is putting a premium on childless homes and sneering at the faithful wife and mother, some homes are becoming centres of crime; marriage is becoming a merchandise; wives are becoming business women, and children are unavoidable nuisances. The few children who do make it into the world are turned over to milk bottles and babysitters, to public schools where there is now danger in classroom where young people live together without the legality of marriage and where drugs and drink abound in their social life. Some contemplating suicide because there is the lack of warm and love of home life.

But memories of old-fashioned mothers truly bring us back home to the simple things. How different her home! How different her life and sphere of activity! Rarely do we find her equal in this modern age. Her home was her realm – she was always there. No children hurrying home from school to an empty house, left to amuse – or abuse – themselves as they saw fit. She knew only too well the pitfalls Satan lays for young minds and hearts.

We see her with her children sitting in their living room telling them Bible stories, each having a significance that she wished to impress on pliable minds.

(1) Mother’s Work

– A Tribute to Mothers

Nobody knows of the work it makes

To keep the home together;

Nobody knows of the steps it takes,

Nobody know – but Mother.

Nobody listens to childish woes,

Which kisses only heal;

Nobody pained by naughty blows,

Nobody – only Mother.

Nobody knows of sleepless care

Bestowed on baby brother;

Nobody knows of the tender prayer,

Nobody – only Mother.

True Riches – True Happiness!

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) 22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Their Secret:The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow(pain) with it. These riches are “without alloy, free from the drawbacks and anxieties which attach to earthly riches” (Perowne). Some have charged this verse with deterministic fatalism. In other words, if God makes one wealthy, nothing one does can change that. Certainly this is not the message of Proverbs. We believe this verse teaches that the Lord doesn’t add sorrow, but that His gifts include happiness as well as well wealth. It is not that effort on our part is useless, but that labour without God’s blessing is (Ps. 127:2; Hab. 1:6-7). “This man receives riches from God because God has ruled that wealth belongs to wise and good men” (Alden). It is speaking, not of earthly riches only, but heavenly, true riches where moth and rust do not corrupt.

Where Did God Come From?

There are many wonderful things about God that we cannot understand. We have already learned one of those things. We have learned that God can be everywhere at the same time. How strange this seems; we cannot understand how that can be at all! God has not explained this to us. When we get to Heaven, He will tell us all about it, and then we will know.

There is something else about God that we cannot understand. To tell you what this other thing is, I am going to ask you a question. Where did God come from? Did He have a father or a mother? No, God did not need a father and mother. He was never born. He was never a little child in Heaven who grew up. He was not born in Heaven because He has always been alive. He has always been great and wonderful, just exactly the same as He is now. He has always been alive.

God was alive yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. He was alive before you were born and before Mother and Daddy were born. He was alive before Grandfather was born and before There were any rocks and trees and grass and animals. He was alive millions and millions of years also before anything else happened.

Who made God? No one did. God was not made by anyone. God has always been alive. We cannot understand this, but we know that it is true.

(1) Our Daily Devotion

We are midway through the fourth month of the year of grace 2018. How is your daily devotional life? Is it consistent? Are you drawing strength from the meditation of God’s Word through prayer for your daily needs? My encouragement for you is to persevere on! Since 1 January 2018, we have started the devotional study on the Book of Proverbs by Denis Gibson, “God for the Life that Wins!” with the scripture text for our encouragement to persevere, “…Let us run the race with patience… Looking unto Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2). This is painstakingly put together for your edification. It can be found in the church website under “Devotions” https://www.blessedhope.sg/category/devotions/ . It is made available in the mobile church app under “Devotions”. It is also updated on the church’s Facebook page. Do avail yourself. The hardcopy book is also available upon request.

Today’s devotion is entitled “Folly’s Fate!” taken from Proverbs 9:13-18, Eph. 2:1-10 and 2 Pet. 3:1-7 “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret [sins]” (Ps. 19:12).

(1) Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

A Light from the Dark Ages

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) is considered the greatest of medieval saints. Martin Luther, himself a monk, wrote of him, “He was the best monk that ever lived, whom I admire beyond all the rest put together.” Born into a noble family in France, he turned his back on wealth and nobility to live as a monk and to advance the life of holiness, discipline, prayer, and ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the people.

He and his followers hewed a home out of a wilderness of forests, a desolate haunt of robbers. The order he founded became the chief religious power in western Europe for three hundred years. Bernard’s writings and poetry became his lasting legacy to the church. His fruitful contemplation of eighty-six sermons on the first two chapters of the Song of Songs is a classic of biblical exposition.