Living in the Spirit
October 19, 2015

Scripture Reading: Job 42:1-6, 10-17

Then Job answered the Lord:
‘I know that you can do all things,
   and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
   things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
“Hear, and I will speak;
   I will question you, and you declare to me.”
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
   but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
   and repent in dust and ashes.’ –Job 42:1-6

The story of Jesus’ healing the man born blind in John came to mind when I read this scripture. In the first century many believe that misfortune was the result of sin. The man’s physical blindness was considered the result of sin. So sin plays a dual role in the scripture because the Pharisees deem Jesus a sinner thus he surely could not heal, yet he did. ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see’ (John 9:25) There is also a dual role in the blindness as the scripture is pointing out the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees.

It is spiritual blindness which our scripture addresses today and when Job’s spiritual eyes are opened and he more fully comprehends the living God he is drawn to repent, turn around from his former ways of understanding.

I remember the day my sister first got glasses. She was discovered to be very nearsighted through a routine school eye check. She had apparently adapted to it so well it had not become apparent. When we walked out of the eye doctor’s office and she had on her new glasses, her first comment was “those trees have leaves.”

Most of the prevalent –isms in our world today, racism, sexism, etc. are the result of nearsighted spiritual vision. We are unable to see the image of God in each persons. The only correction for this condition is letting God open our eyes, repent of our shortsightedness, and begin to love everyone like Jesus loved.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.* 

Prayer: Lord help me see others as you see them and love like you love. Amen.

*First verse of Amazing Grace by John Newton see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.