Fourth Sunday in Lent - Mysterious Ways
Goes along with Kids Devotion of the same title.
God knows what he’s doing, even when we don’t understand.
Read John 9:1-41.
Bible Focus: “[Jesus] spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” -John 9:6b-7
“God works in mysterious ways.” We’ve all heard this saying before. This Bible reading is a prime example. Jesus could have said to the blind man, “Be healed!” Instead, he chose to spit on the ground, make mud with his saliva, put the mud on the blind man’s eyes, and tell him to go wash it off in a specific pool.
This was not the first time that Jesus helped someone in an odd way. Think of the time he changed water to wine, instead of just making new wine appear out of nothing (John 2) or when he healed an official’s son without even going to see him (John 4). And this was not the last time he did something unusual, either - next week’s reading is the account of Jesus bringing Lazarus back from the dead, rather than healing him while he was sick.
Throughout Lent, we hear about Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. This seems normal to us because we’ve heard it so many times. However, the events of Holy Week are truly unconventional.
A powerful God willingly submitting to flogging, mockery, and crucifixion at the hands of sinners when he could have stopped it without even lifting a finger?
Perfect Jesus choosing to die because he loved everyone who had ever or would ever live - including those we consider to be the worst of the worst, like murderers, rapists, and terrorists?
God works in mysterious ways, indeed.
Isaiah 55:8-9 reads:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
And Romans 8:28 reminds us:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God knows what he’s doing, even when we don’t understand. We can trust him. His unusual methods always yield positive results for his people.
Your challenge this week:
Spit on the ground, make mud, and put it on someone’s eyes.
Just kidding! Your (real) challenge this week:
Talk to God about a problem you have.
Please pray:
Heavenly Father, you are gracious and sacrificial towards us. I confess that I sometimes have trouble trusting in your plan. Thank you for always working for my good. I ask that you would strengthen my faith in your intentions. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.
