ABC Doesn't Force XYZ

Heard a fantastic sermon at church this week and I think the message was maybe the best message I've heard period. The verses discussed were John 9:1-7. 

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind¹ As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

When you get down to why sometimes you can't be 100% on board with God it's because of things like these verses. We say bad things happen to us because we've sinned and God is punishing us. NOT THE CASE!!! Scott talked about how God loves us all the same, looks at all of our sins the same and doesn't punish us. Scott said often we act in a manner ABC and then expect God to respond in form XYZ and we get mad when it doesn't turn out exactly as we hoped, but that's not how God works. 

Even for someone like me who believes in God and that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, this message was powerful. Often I don't think we take ownership of our actions and the free will God gave us and say, "hey, you know what I did this to myself", instead we pin it on God because it's easy. We also need to acknowledge that  God is not magic, and He gave us the gift of free will and that includes the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and grow.

If you want to hear a great sermon that is a lot more eloquent that what I just said listen to the podcast or watch last weeks sermon online here  then choose "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and then "Can You See The Light" by Scott Rains. Hope does a fantastic job of preaching on God's great love for us and doesn't make you feel guilty about your choices. Only one of the reasons I love Hope so much.