Have you ever experienced helping others along the way? Perhaps someone stopped and helped you. How did that feel to help someone else or to be helped? What did the Lord teach you through that situation?
Being Helped Along the Way
We had traveled to Mexico City and a friend planned to pick us up. Our cell phone company assured us before we left that our phones would work there. When we tried to call our friend the cell phones would not work. There were nine different exit doors, and we didn’t know Spanish. How would we ever find our friend? Another traveler was close to us and he spoke English and could understand our dilemma. He asked if we needed some help and was able to make a phone call to our friend. Wow. we were relieved to find our friend and were thankful for this young man. God had used this young man to help us on our way.
Jesus Helping a Blind Man Along the Way
In our story, Jesus stopped and took time to heal a blind person. John 9:1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing![1]
We can Help Others Along our Way
Jesus shows us the importance of taking time for those who are in need right in front of us. He did not have to travel five days to find someone in need and neither did the man who helped us at the airport. When we are helping someone, the Lord shows us how we can be His hands to assist others. We are able to see the work of God as others help us. Our situations may not be as dramatic as the blind man’s. But, God can use us to help others with problems, or to teach us thankfulness.
Prayer
Jesus, give me a heart that wants to help others. I give You the freedom to use me to build up your Church. Place in me a desire to be alert to the needs of the people around me, and not just their spiritual needs. Help me be alert to their emotional and physical needs as well. I want to do whatever you ask of me. Lord, I want to be your hands and your feet in the world today.[2]
To hear more about how Jesus helped others along the way, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-a-blind-man
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 9:1–7). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.