John 9:8-41 | What's the lesson for me today?

It is unfortunate how quickly pride can come in and interrupt belief. As it did for the Pharisees is how it happens for us today.  The ironic part of it all is that I have so many "opening my eyes" kind of moments wrapped up in my testimony and still have the ability to doubt. There is power in testimony and I think we often neglect that fact. I know I do. Was it not the confession of the man's testimony that led him to the place of worship?

Often when we think of the power of testimony, we think it is powerful for the listener. This passage challenges that notion. Those that were witness to his testimony doubted him and the legitimacy of it. The Pharisees only became more secure in their pride and the man was rejected from their midst because of it. However, in giving the testimony, the man, when faced with Jesus, turned to worship the Son of God. He was not giving the testimony for the sake of the listener. He gave the testimony simply in recognizing that something amazing had happened. There was a time that he could not see. When he encountered Jesus, he was able to see clearly.

This passage really challenges me to accredit the work of Jesus in my life properly to Jesus. I have to confess that the Christian skeptic mentality has been too prominent and celebrated in my own life. I have elevated my own skepticism of certain works of Jesus in my life as doing the "Berean Test" on it. In reality, I was simply pridefully expressing my own doubt under the guise of a different, acceptable term. The clash for me is that I find the battle between the Pharisees and the seeing man in myself. The Lord will do something amazing, half of me challenges it and the other half believes. What is the result of such a mindset?

...for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
-James 1:6b-8

Instability is the result. We must fully confess and believe. I must fully confess and believe. My prayer is that we will practice all the more eradicating unbelief and express genuine faith.

What lesson are you taking for yourself today?