May 6, 2013 What’s The Meaning Of A Disability?
Monday May 6, 2013
How do you view a person who has been born with some type of infirmity such as blindness, deafness, dumbness, spina bifida, or any other type of disorder or disease of the body? The disciples, who were with Jesus when He met a man who had been blind from birth, thought either the man or his parents had sinned against God to the degree that they had caused the man’s blindness.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him”. (John 9:1-3 NIV) Jesus’ reply overturned the disciple’s judgment concerning the man’s blindness. Neither the man nor his
parents were to blame, but this had happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. The man must have faced many difficulties as he grew from childhood to adulthood living in the darkness of blindness. His problems may have been increased by the church and community around him who believed that sin was the cause of his infirmity. Perhaps he or his parents were made to feel guilty by the teaching of the church leaders or the comments of the community around them. As a mature man he provided for himself by begging and was therefore subject to the charity of those around him.
parents were to blame, but this had happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. The man must have faced many difficulties as he grew from childhood to adulthood living in the darkness of blindness. His problems may have been increased by the church and community around him who believed that sin was the cause of his infirmity. Perhaps he or his parents were made to feel guilty by the teaching of the church leaders or the comments of the community around them. As a mature man he provided for himself by begging and was therefore subject to the charity of those around him.
Sometimes, like this man, we may live in the darkness of the events of our lives, things that happened prior to us even being conceived in the womb, or subsequent to our birth. We may not know who our biological father or mother is but, God has said, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10 NIV) We may have been born into a family that did not treat us as the blessing that God says children are. Some of us may have been trapped by a lifetime of verbal, physical, sexual or other abuse, making us vulnerable to those around us. If you are living in any kind of darkness take heart, Jesus is passing by, He knows you, and He sees you. He knows that whatever has happened in the past, the works of God will be displayed in you, if you obey Him. He will bring you out of darkness into His glorious light. Jesus is the light that obliterates darkness. “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5 NIV)
Audio for May 6, 2013 What’s The Meaning Of A Disability?
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.