DAILY DEVOTIONAL – May 28, 2020
“ProcrastiNOT“
Prayer: Jesus, You have given us so much to live for. Each moment, each minute of our lives has been given eternal purpose because of Your great love and sacrifice for us. Lord, help us not to be complacent or slothful in the discipline and work of being a disciple. Help us to see and experience the full joy and excitement of Your work in and through us, and our work in serving You. Amen.
Scripture: John 9:1-7
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
Devotional – “ProcrastiNOT”
It would be near impossible to enter into any house in America and not find at least one of these. Life happens on it everyday. Friends gather together on it, families laugh and cry on it, my kids play on it like a jungle gym, dogs may or may not allowed to be on it, and for some reason, in much the same way a clothes dryer is a black hole for socks, this piece of furniture is a magnet for loose change, television remote controls, cell phones, food particles, and a litany of other random things. Have you figure out yet what I am talking about? I am talking about your couch.
I can’t count the number of times I have been wandering around the house looking for my keys, getting frustrated by the second because I could have sworn I just had them, only to eventually find that the couch had once again managed to suck them out of my pocket and bury them in the cracks between the cushions. If you have ever been brave enough to look under your couch or lift up all the cushions after an extended period of time, you know it’s like opening Pandora’s box!
The other day this whole scenario played out again but this time with my cell phone. When I finally remembered to look deep in my couch, the thought hit me, “You know Jay, the less time you spend on the couch the less stuff you’re gonna lose!”
The more comfortable we get, the harder it is to get going again and the easier it is to put things off, procrastinate and lose the energy and passion for what is most important in life. As enjoyable as a relaxing time on the couch is, it is never more edifying that accomplishing a day of good’ol hard work. Hard work only makes the couch that much more enjoyable. I think that is what Jesus has in mind when He tells the disciples in verse 4 of John 9, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Immediately after saying this, Jesus did something that I am sure left the disciples with their jaws on the floor; speechless. Jesus used mud and spittle to anoint the eyes of this man that everyone knew was blind from birth, who never saw a shred of light before in his life, and then told him to wash His face in the pool of Siloam. The man did so, and to the astonishment of all who witnessed it, including the blind man, he received his sight in full.
Two miracles of sight happened that day. The blind man received His sight, and the disciples got to see what’s possible when they follow their Lord, when they put one foot after the other and follow Him, who is the Light of the World, while the Light was still shinning with them. The Good news of the Gospel my friends, is that Christ is still with us. He is Risen, He promised He is with us to the very end of the age, and He is with you; and I assure you He is still saying, “Come, follow me. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming.”
Jesus said in John 12:35, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that because He is the light and because He is with us and His Spirit has been put into our hearts, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
The circumstances in which we find ourselves right now have left us with a great opportunity of time. Life has slowed down, and has all but shut down. Like never before many of us have time; time to either spend on the couch, which only threatens to steal more from us, or time to follow after our Lord as the disciples did and be amazed by what He opens our eyes to see. For the next little while, following after our Lord may look different, we may have to be creative in many ways, but today is the day to make yourself increasingly available to the work the Lord is doing and wanting to do in and through you so that His Light and Life would fill you and overflow from you.
As John notes for us in our text for today, Siloam, the name of the pool that Jesus sent the blind man to wash in, literally means sent. The blind man was sent and followed Jesus’ words and saw wonders. The disciples heeded the call, were sent by Jesus, and followed His Word, and saw wonders. You and I are sent, not tomorrow, but today while the Light still shines and we still have this unique opportunity to cast Christ’s light into this darkened world and see wonders.
Thanks for spending another time of devotion with me in God’s Word, and remember, that God has forgiven yesterday, is with you today and has already taken care of tomorrow. Amen.
