Scripture Notes: Prevented (Acts 16)

During his second missionary journey, Paul runs into some surprising opposition—from the Holy Spirit! He is traveling in Asia Minor and would like to spread out his evangelization in that area, but the Holy Spirit prevents him from doing so. Paul is simply not allowed to go where he thinks he would like to go. We do not know how the Holy Spirit acts in this matter. Perhaps it is through a series of mishaps or a strong sense that something is not right. Perhaps it involves more direct communication. The Bible does not say, but we know that the Holy Spirit deliberately prevents Paul from traveling where he wants. 

Why? God has another plan for this second missionary journey. One night, Paul receives a vision of a man from Macedonia (the guardian angel of that region perhaps?) pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now Paul knows why he was prevented from traveling in Asia. God intends for him to spread the Gospel in Europe instead. And he does. He sets out at once and begins a new stage of his journey, allowing God to direct him and obeying even when he does not understand. 

We have all experienced this in various ways when we do not get something we really want or feel blocked in our plans and goals. But just like God had something better in mind for Paul, something that  promoted His perfect plan, God has something better in mind for us, too, something that promotes His perfect plan for our lives, even when we cannot see it and do not understand. God has His reasons, and that is where our trust needs to become stronger. He can see so much further than we can. He knows the whole picture. We only know a little bit. So when we are prevented, God is acting for our good. We must imitate Paul and trust, accept, and obey. 

Scripture Notes: Blindness to Sight (John 9)

In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind. This man has never seen anything. His world has been darkness his whole life. He has no concept of light or color or visible shape. So just imagine what happens when Jesus gives him his sight. Imagine how overwhelmed he must be. All of a sudden he is surrounded by a new world, a world he can see. He has so much to learn! Everything is fresh and wonderful. 

We may have trouble putting ourselves in this man’s place. After all, for most of us, the visible world is normal. We take it for granted. But once in a while, it may be a good idea to look at it with renewed eyes, to recognize the wonders that surround us every day, to drink in the beauty of light and color and shape, to thank God for the gift of creation.

But there is more. When Jesus opens the blind man’s eyes, He does it for real. He really gives this man his physical sight. But the act also points to another kind of blindness and sight, one that is spiritual. We are so often blind to the deeper realities that are all around us, the spiritual world, God’s actions in our lives, the miracles of grace and love. If we let Him, Jesus will open our eyes to these realities. He will give us our spiritual sight that we may see with our minds and our hearts and learn how to appreciate a whole new level of truth, goodness, and beauty. 

The blind man’s healing, however, is not automatic. Yes, it is completely a grace, initiated by Jesus, given freely by Jesus. The man does nothing to earn it, but he does have to consent and cooperate. He must accept Jesus’ action and obey Him when He says to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. We, too, must cooperate with Jesus if we are to gain our spiritual sight. We have to allow Jesus to work on us; we must obey Him when He commands us to do something; we must accept His gift and open our eyes wide to see what He wants to reveal to us. Then we, too, will be amazed and perhaps even overwhelmed by a whole new world.

Scripture Notes: Mordecai’s Prayer (Esther 13)

Mordecai finds himself with a big, red bull’s eye on his back in the Book of Esther. He has refused to bow down to Haman, the king’s prime minister, and now Haman is out to get him and all the Jewish people in the Persian empire. A date has been set for their total destruction. It seems inevitable, but Mordecai is not convinced of that. 

The first thing he does is turn to God in prayer. He begins by blessing God and acknowledging His rule. God’s power extends over the whole universe, for He has made all that is and maintains it in existence. Mordecai declares that if God wants to save Israel, then no one can oppose Him. He can do exactly as He wills, no matter what, and by saying this, Mordecai is reminding himself that it is true and expressing his trust in God even when times are difficult and frightening.

Mordecai then goes on to explain why he would not bow down to Haman. Perhaps he is feeling rather guilty for drawing the prime minister’s ire, but Mordecai does not dare set a human being above God. He does not dare to bow to anyone but God, fearing perhaps that his gesture would be mistaken for worship and that Haman would be thought of as God. Mordecai needs to set an example for his fellow Jews and for all people. God is God, and no human being can ever step into that role.

Mordecai now asks God to spare His people from destruction. Their foes are threatening them, and humanly, the situation seems impossible. But God has rescued them before. He brought them out of slavery in Egypt. And He can redeem them again, for the people are God’s portion, His inheritance, His covenant family, a nation of priests meant to bring Him to the whole world. So Mordecai begs God to hear his prayer and have mercy, to turn the people’s fear and sorrow into joy and celebration that they may praise Him forever.  

God answers Mordecai’s prayer, of course, but He does it using Mordecai and Esther as His instruments. He gives them a role to play in the deliverance of their people and the victory over their enemies. Mordecai and Esther must cooperate, through prayer, through courageous action, and through a trusting faith that no matter what happens, God is in control.

Scripture Notes: The Light of the World (John 8)

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  ake some time today to reflect on these words. Jesus shines the true light into the world, the light of God, the light of love, the light of life. And this life, zoē in the Greek, does not refer to physical, biological life but rather to a life that transcends the here and now. It is the taste of eternal life that we receive while we are still here in this world and then the eternal life that we will have forever with God in Heaven.

So we should ask ourselves today whether we are letting Jesus’ light shine into us. Are we following Him, or are we clinging to some darkness? Are we moving toward the light? Are we allowing it to fill us? Are we reaching out to eternal life? Or are we still focused too much on the life of this world? 

“I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”