Listen

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

John 9:13–17

Think

There is power in sharing stories of God. The Pharisees unknowingly gave a gift to the man that Jesus healed by asking him to tell his story. They could see the change in him and wanted to know how he could see. The man told the story again in very simple terms. The recap included what Jesus did, what the man did in response, and the healing that occurred. The man might not have fully understood who Jesus was at the time, but he knew the story was worth repeating, because everyone kept asking him about it.

Take time today or this week to ask someone to share part of their story with you. If you truly listen, you might be surprised whose eyes are opened.

Neil Myer

Pray

God, give me courage to share my story and to invite others to do the same. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see your unexpected ways. Amen.

Go

Go now with a willingness to see things as they are,
And imagine the world as it could be.

We all have a story to tell
And experiences that shape what we see.

But there is healing in the truth God brings
And enough light to see just ahead,
For God is already in the place where you are going.