DAILY DEVOTIONAL – February 3, 2020
“Two Signs, One Truth”
Prayer: Our God and Father, each day is a gift from You and an opportunity we have to know Your love through the forgiveness and grace You have provided in the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. By the power of Your presence and Spirit, help us to rejoice all the more loudly when our sin and the brokenness of this world threaten to steal our thankfulness and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Devotional – “Two Signs, One Truth”
I would like to share with you a of a homeless blind boy who sat along the main street running through the heart of a busy city. It was a dark and cold day with storm clouds threatening to release their torrent overhead. He was sitting in his regular spot; on the steps leading into one of the many skyscrapers that lined the boulevard. He sat holding a sign he made which said: “I am blind, please help.” In the darkness of his blindness the boy listened to the all too familiar sounds of thousands of busy footsteps walking by, the constant hum of vehicles in traffic and the litany of human voices – all very busy with their day. Occasionally, he would hear the faint sound of a couple small coins clinking together as they were thrown into the hat he had put upside down at his feet. He was lucky if he found a full handful of coins in his hat by the end of the day.
One afternoon, the boys attention was drawn to a new sound. He heard one of the many sets of passing footsteps slow to a stop directly in front of him. Then came the familiar sound of a few coins landing in his hat. He waited to hear the footsteps begin to walk away before reaching into the hat to see how much was left, except this time, he heard nothing. In fact, though he couldn’t see the person, the blind boy could sense that the person was still there. The boy was suddenly startled when the sign was taken right out of his hands. Not sure what to do or say, the boy just sat there. Then came the sound of someone writing on his sign. As soon as the sound of writing stopped, the sign was placed back into his lap and flipped over.
“Excuse me! Could you please tell me what you just wrote on my sign?!” No answer came, only the sound of the footsteps now walking away. Confused and a little upset the boy just sat there for a moment. Then again came the sound of coins being dropped into his hat. Before he could reach out to grab them, the sound came again and again and again. Not only were more coins coming, but the boy could hear the clink of the coins getting deeper…bigger coins were being dropped into his hat!
As soon as there was a pause in the chorus of coins, the boy quickly reached out to see how much was in his hat. It was nearly full. Later that afternoon came the sound of familiar footsteps, and again they stopped in front of him. Convinced it was the same person from before the boy quickly asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?” “I am.” the voice replied. “What did you write?” “I wrote the truth” the voice replied. “What is the truth?” the boy asked. The voice replied, “Today is a beautiful day, I just can’t see it.”
The two signs in this story were very similar in one way yet very different. Both signs told people that the boy was blind. The first sign communicated that the boy’s blindness left him disadvantaged and lacking. The second sign however, communicated thankfulness and happiness despite being blind. The first sign reminded people how unfortunate the boy was. The second sign reminded people how blessed they were to be able to see the beauty of an overcast and stormy day. When the sign was changed from one of solicitation to one of gratitude, those walking by were made to realize that not only did they have enough to be thankful for, but they had more than enough to share.
Who received the bigger blessing in this story? The blind boy who received a hat overflowing with coins? Or, the passerby on the street who was given the opportunity to celebrate and be thankful for all they had by sharing it with those who had not?
As Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
When our focus is one of gratitude, we not only are able to see the beauty in an overcast day, but as those who put all of our desire and faith in Christ, we can see the hope even in the worst day. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our God has proven to be absolutely faithful in all of His works, even when He permits suffering or allows us the privilege of suffering for the sake of being used to bless others just as this blind boy was. Like the blind boy, however, we are not always aware of how our hardships may be being used by God. This is why Scripture calls us to give thanks always and for everything. As children of God who know the Truth and salvation of Jesus Christ, not only do we have eternally more to be thankful for than whatever hardships befall us, but it is through that gratitude and thankfulness in all circumstances that Christ’s light shines through us.
Thanks for joining me today for another time of devotion. Remember, God has forgiven yesterday, is with you today and has already taken care of tomorrow. Amen.
