This week's lent meditation is written by Cheryl West.
I sit here day after day or walk around as best I can. You see, I was born blind, and I don’t have anything to do to fill the long days. I’m not able to do any productive work since I can’t see, so I fill my days as best I can People walk past me all the time, but they don’t really pay any attention to me I wonder if they really see me. I would love for someone to stop and talk with me; to ask me how I am doing. Wait a minute… did I hear something? Did someone say something to me? What is happening? Someone is putting mud on my eyes and telling me to “to wash in the pool of Siloam.” That’s strange, but I will do what he asks. I have to get the mud off my eyes after all, and he said something about being the “light of the world” and “working before night comes.” What could that mean? Oh, the water feels so good on my face! Finally, I have all the mud off! Wait a minute! What is this? I can’t believe it! Something is so very bright? I have never seen bright before! And what are those? Are those my hands, my fingers? Whatever the man did, it restored my sight! I can see! I can see!
This is one of the many miracles Jesus performed while He was on earth. We read about it in the scripture; we hear of it in the lines of an old hymn: “Once I was blind but now I can see! The Light of the World is Jesus!” Jesus did not pass by the blind man as others did each day. He stopped; He talked with him; He gave the man instructions which the man obediently followed. He recognized his infirmity and healed him through His power.
There are many people in the world suffering in one way or another. Their infirmity may not be as obvious as being blind; in fact, it may not be a physical infirmity at all, but the hurt and pain are just as real. Who will be Jesus to these people? Bruce Carroll and Aaron Wilburn wrote a song entitled “Who Will Be Jesus?” The lines below portray this idea much better than I can:
Wounded people ev’rywhere, and when they look at us do they see Jesus there?
Who will be Jesus to them? Who’ll show the love that restores them again?
They do not need a judge, they need a friend; who will be Jesus to them?
These people may be co-workers, the waitress at a local restaurant, the person at the checkout counter at the grocery store, a student in our classroom, a member of our family. We see them all the time, but do we really SEE them? Do we pick up on clues that show they may be depressed or going through a hard time? Do we ignore them or offer our help? The song “People Need the Lord” by Steve Green poses this question to us in a real way.
Ev’ry day they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes;
Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries only Jesus hears.
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right;
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who’s lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life only we can share.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, People need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?
We need to give our lives, ‘cause people need the Lord.
We just completed our Feed the Hungry, Feed the Soul ministry for another year. This is a great opportunity to minister physically and spiritually to the people around us. May we carry this care and concern for those around us through this Easter season and beyond. Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the bondage of sin; let us be His hands, His feet, His voice and minister to the people surrounding us each day. Will you be Jesus to them?
I sit here day after day or walk around as best I can. You see, I was born blind, and I don’t have anything to do to fill the long days. I’m not able to do any productive work since I can’t see, so I fill my days as best I can People walk past me all the time, but they don’t really pay any attention to me I wonder if they really see me. I would love for someone to stop and talk with me; to ask me how I am doing. Wait a minute… did I hear something? Did someone say something to me? What is happening? Someone is putting mud on my eyes and telling me to “to wash in the pool of Siloam.” That’s strange, but I will do what he asks. I have to get the mud off my eyes after all, and he said something about being the “light of the world” and “working before night comes.” What could that mean? Oh, the water feels so good on my face! Finally, I have all the mud off! Wait a minute! What is this? I can’t believe it! Something is so very bright? I have never seen bright before! And what are those? Are those my hands, my fingers? Whatever the man did, it restored my sight! I can see! I can see!
This is one of the many miracles Jesus performed while He was on earth. We read about it in the scripture; we hear of it in the lines of an old hymn: “Once I was blind but now I can see! The Light of the World is Jesus!” Jesus did not pass by the blind man as others did each day. He stopped; He talked with him; He gave the man instructions which the man obediently followed. He recognized his infirmity and healed him through His power.
There are many people in the world suffering in one way or another. Their infirmity may not be as obvious as being blind; in fact, it may not be a physical infirmity at all, but the hurt and pain are just as real. Who will be Jesus to these people? Bruce Carroll and Aaron Wilburn wrote a song entitled “Who Will Be Jesus?” The lines below portray this idea much better than I can:
Wounded people ev’rywhere, and when they look at us do they see Jesus there?
Who will be Jesus to them? Who’ll show the love that restores them again?
They do not need a judge, they need a friend; who will be Jesus to them?
These people may be co-workers, the waitress at a local restaurant, the person at the checkout counter at the grocery store, a student in our classroom, a member of our family. We see them all the time, but do we really SEE them? Do we pick up on clues that show they may be depressed or going through a hard time? Do we ignore them or offer our help? The song “People Need the Lord” by Steve Green poses this question to us in a real way.
Ev’ry day they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes;
Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries only Jesus hears.
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right;
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who’s lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life only we can share.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, People need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?
We need to give our lives, ‘cause people need the Lord.
We just completed our Feed the Hungry, Feed the Soul ministry for another year. This is a great opportunity to minister physically and spiritually to the people around us. May we carry this care and concern for those around us through this Easter season and beyond. Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the bondage of sin; let us be His hands, His feet, His voice and minister to the people surrounding us each day. Will you be Jesus to them?
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