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T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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The reason th a t we see so few is be cause we are not walking in the light. His disciples were not walking in the light, although they were walking w ith Him. They saw th e man only as an object of pity and not as an opportunity for service; a subject for psychological and theological discussion as to the cause of his blindness, bu t not as to the need of th e man. They did not ask Jesus to help "him. They were like a g reat many Christians who discuss such questions as “Do missions pay?” “Does Sunday School work pay?” “Does it pay to devote one’s life to C h rist?” while m ultitudes are dying, w ithout God and w ithout hope. Their question was “Who sinned” th a t he was born blind? Instinctively th e m ind connects sickness and disas te r w ith sin. I t was so w ith Job’s friends (Job 4 :7 ) and w ith P aul at Melita (Acts 28:4) “ N o d o u b t t h is m a n is a m u r d e r e r 'w h om , th o u g h h e h a th e s c a p e d th e s e a , y e t v e n g e a n c e s u ffe re th n o t to l iv e /’ The general ru le is found in Romans 8 : 22 : “ F o r w e k n o w t h a t th e w h o le c r e a tio n g r o a n e th a n d tr a v a ile th in p a in to g e th e r u n til n o w .” Suffering is often th e direct resu lt of sin, as in the. case of Miriam, Gehazi and Lot. There is also th e law of hered ity, and Children often suffer for the sins of th eir fath ers (Ex. 20 :5 ). We are not to judge. It is not a sin to be sick, or a sin to tak e medicine. Special calam ities are not always a sign of special sins (Luke 13:4, 5).- “O r th o s e e ig h te e n o n w h o m th e to w e r o f S ilo a m f e ll a n d s le w th e m ; th in k y e t h a t th e y w e re s in n e r s a b o v e a ll m e n t h a t d w e lt in J e r u s a le m ? I te ll y o u , N a y ; b u t, e x c e p t y e r e p e n t, y e s h a ll a ll lik e w is e p e r is h .” . Some suffering is disciplinary and is intended as a means of grace. Some suffering is for the special glory of God (2 Cor. 12:9)
B artim aeus surrendered all and re ceived his sight. The fou rth case is th a t of our lesson. This man was bom blind. He had been bred in darkness— a helpless, hopeless man— a well-known beggar (v. 8 ) but a man of some intelligence w ithal, as would appear from vs. 25, 27, 30, 33. He is a type of a sinner,— born blind, beyond hum an help, shu t up to the mercy of God, all beauty and splendor shu t out, subject to lim itations and handicaps. - This man did not seek th e Lord, n eith er did his friends seek H im ,in his behalf, bu t th e Lord manifested His divine grace and power towards him. “He saw him ” (v. 1). O thers had passed by w ithout seeing. Jesu s tested th e man as to his w illingness to obey, and when he obeyed, he received his sight. These four cases are well worth studying, in harmony, as they give us insight into God’s plan of dealing w ith men. There are some who have friends interested in th eir salvation. There are others who have heard th e news and who are seeking on th e ir own behalf. There are still others who are sud denly moved and constrained by the voice of God, and then th e re are those who n eith er seek, nor are brought, nor are aroused, bu t on whom God bestows His love and favour (Rom. 10 :20 ). Grace unsought is manifested (1 John 4: 19). “W e lo v e h im b e c a u s e h e f ir s t lo v e d u s .” (2). THE BLIND DISCIPLES, vs. 2-3. The disciples did not see th e blind man, bu t Christ saw him. He saw his helpless, hopeless condition. He always sees men. He came to seek and to save men (Luke 1 9 :10 ). He is th e L ight of th e world, and ligh t penetrates. He was moved to help men by th e ir own helplessness.
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“A n d h e s a id u n to m e , M y g r a c e is s u f fic ie n t f o r th e e , f o r m y s t r e n g t h is m a d e p e r f e c t in w e a k n e s s . M o st g la d ly , th e r e fo r e , w ill I r a t h e r g lo r y in m y in firm itie s , A RADIATING AND RALLYING CENTER OF
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