FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 4 : CURIOSITY OR COMPASSION

[cimi]

October 4
Saturday


CURIOSITY OR
COMPASSION

READ:
JOHN 9:1-12
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[Jesus'] disciples asked
Him, saying, "Rabbi,
who sinned, this man
or his parents, that
he was born blind?"
__John 9:2
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Why is it that when we hear about someone who is suffering, we are more interested in the details of what, why, when, and where than we are about how we can help?

When the disciples passed the blind beggar (John (9:1), their curiosity about why he was suffering out-weighed the prospect of reaching out to help him. "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" they asked (v.2). Their pop-quiz for Jesus revealed that they were dreadfully out of step with their Master's heart. In fact, lurking beneath their question was a judgmental spirit__a desire to know whom to blame__as if that would make anyone feel better!

Thankfully, Jesus modeled a compassionate response. Rather than speculation and condemnation, He marshaled His resources to help, which in this case meant complete healing. He made it clear that the man's blindness was intended to provide a moment for God to be magnified through Jesus' compassionate touch.

Feeling curious about somebody's problem? Shift into Jesus' mode and move past the point of curiosity to his or her point of need. Reach out and touch someone's pain. Show the compassionate love of Jesus in action. __Joe Stowell
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````````````````````Amid the snares misfortune lays``````````````
````````````````````Unseen, beneath the steps of all,``````````````
```````````````````Blest is the Love that seeks to raise````````````
``````````````And stay and strengthen those who fall. __Bryant`````
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Do you want to be like Jesus?
Replace curiosity with compassion.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ John 9:1-12***********

1 Now as Jesus passed by,
He saw a man who was
blind from birth. 2 And His
disciples asked Him, saying,
"Rabbi, who sinned, this
man or his parents, that he
was born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "Neither
this man nor his parents
sinned, but that the works of
God should be revealed in
him. 4 I must work the
works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night is
coming when no one can
work. 5 As long as I am in
the world, I am the light of
the world."

6 when He had said these
things, He spat on the
ground and made clay with
the saliva; and He anointed
the eyes of the blind man
with the clay. 7 And He said
to him, "go, wash in the
pool of Siloam" (which is
translated, Sent). So he went
and washed, and came back
seeing.

8 Therefore the neighbors
and those who previously
had seen that he was blind
said, "Is not this he who sat
and begged?" 9 Some said,
"This is he." Others said,
"He is like him." He said, "I
am he.

10 Therefore they said to
him, "How were your eyes
opened?"

11 He answered and said,
"A Man called Jesus made
clay and anointed my eyes
and said to me, 'Go to the
pool of Siloam and wash'
So I went and washed, and I
received sight."

12 Then they said to him,
"Where is he?"
He said, "I do not know."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jesus performed miracles out of His compassion for broken people,
but these miracles often had a broader point. Here, Christ declares
Himself to be the "light of the world" (v.5), then proves it by
bringing light to the darkened eyes of a blind man. __Bill Crowder