Our paragraph topic is: (The blind men at Jericho) Part 9.
How do you see someone without seeing them? How do you hear someone without hearing them? How do we know someone without knowing them? Christ was surrounded by people on all sides. He did not see the two blind men. He could not hear them over the din of the crowd. But in his spirit he knew that their hearts were calling him. They could not make their way to him because of the crowds. They could not move closer to him because they could not see. They could only stand by the wayside, out of the crowd and call to him with their belief, call to him with their hope, call to him with their faith in the words they had heard of him.
And he heard the sorrow in their hearts. He heard the belief in their minds that he was the one who could transform their lives. He heard the pain in their lives that they had endured in the darkness all of their life. And he was moved. And Jesus, moved with compassion for them.
He is the Son of God, our Father. He lives in heaven. He is Lord of all. And yet he gave up all, that he might become like man and walk among us. He became flesh and blood like us. He laughed and ate with us. He walked and talked with us. He taught us how to live and he gave us an example of how he died for us. He loved us then and he loves us now.
I think of all the homeless and lost souls who wonder the streets, hopeless, living day to day, by any means they can. I think of those who are trapped in the vicious cycle of addiction, not only to drugs but to any addiction that compels them to do the same things over and over again expecting the different results. Even those who are stuck in the financial rut striving to find a way out of that cycle, wishing and hoping for something better. They search for that one big opportunity to hit it big that will change their lives forever.
I was there. I ran the cycle. I was lost. I cried out to the Lord and he had compassion for me. He heard my cry. He heard my sorrow. He felt my pain. He rescued me from the depths of my hopelessness and brought me back from the abyss. I am a witness of his love, of his compassion, of his mercy. I am no longer on the path to destruction. Today I have a new path to follow, a path given me by my Father. Today, I am saved and have the knowledge of who I am in him. My spirit rejoices in who I am. My heart is filled with the happiness of the life that is within me, the life given me by Christ. His love overwhelms. His love fulfills. There is nothing that I want or need that he has not provided. My life is full, my purpose is clear, my task is at hand and I rejoice in its completion.
Christ loves each and everyone of us the same. He is the reason that we have life today if we choose. Without him we are dead, without a soul. But with him we have the light of life within us and the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way. And with him there is no sorrow, no pain, no regrets. There is only the last day to go home to be with him for all eternity. Come, join the party and be with those who love you. Christ Jesus loves you.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
How do you see someone without seeing them? How do you hear someone without hearing them? How do we know someone without knowing them? Christ was surrounded by people on all sides. He did not see the two blind men. He could not hear them over the din of the crowd. But in his spirit he knew that their hearts were calling him. They could not make their way to him because of the crowds. They could not move closer to him because they could not see. They could only stand by the wayside, out of the crowd and call to him with their belief, call to him with their hope, call to him with their faith in the words they had heard of him.
And he heard the sorrow in their hearts. He heard the belief in their minds that he was the one who could transform their lives. He heard the pain in their lives that they had endured in the darkness all of their life. And he was moved. And Jesus, moved with compassion for them.
He is the Son of God, our Father. He lives in heaven. He is Lord of all. And yet he gave up all, that he might become like man and walk among us. He became flesh and blood like us. He laughed and ate with us. He walked and talked with us. He taught us how to live and he gave us an example of how he died for us. He loved us then and he loves us now.
I think of all the homeless and lost souls who wonder the streets, hopeless, living day to day, by any means they can. I think of those who are trapped in the vicious cycle of addiction, not only to drugs but to any addiction that compels them to do the same things over and over again expecting the different results. Even those who are stuck in the financial rut striving to find a way out of that cycle, wishing and hoping for something better. They search for that one big opportunity to hit it big that will change their lives forever.
I was there. I ran the cycle. I was lost. I cried out to the Lord and he had compassion for me. He heard my cry. He heard my sorrow. He felt my pain. He rescued me from the depths of my hopelessness and brought me back from the abyss. I am a witness of his love, of his compassion, of his mercy. I am no longer on the path to destruction. Today I have a new path to follow, a path given me by my Father. Today, I am saved and have the knowledge of who I am in him. My spirit rejoices in who I am. My heart is filled with the happiness of the life that is within me, the life given me by Christ. His love overwhelms. His love fulfills. There is nothing that I want or need that he has not provided. My life is full, my purpose is clear, my task is at hand and I rejoice in its completion.
Christ loves each and everyone of us the same. He is the reason that we have life today if we choose. Without him we are dead, without a soul. But with him we have the light of life within us and the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way. And with him there is no sorrow, no pain, no regrets. There is only the last day to go home to be with him for all eternity. Come, join the party and be with those who love you. Christ Jesus loves you.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
