{"id":858,"date":"2014-03-29T19:40:00","date_gmt":"2014-03-30T00:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/?p=858"},"modified":"2014-11-25T10:12:47","modified_gmt":"2014-11-25T16:12:47","slug":"is-seeing-believing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2014\/03\/29\/is-seeing-believing\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Seeing Believing? A Mark of Discipleship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/sermons\/?sermon_id=33\">Audio Version<\/a><\/p>\n<p>1 Samuel 16:3, 5-13<br \/>\nEphesians 5:8-14<br \/>\nJohn 9:1-7,13,17-21,24-25,28-31<\/p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YTl0iVZZ16I?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<p>Is being blind about not having sight?\u00a0 It could be, if we are speaking only in physical terms.\u00a0 The gospel speaks of sin and sight, cause and effect.\u00a0 But does it really?\u00a0 To see is beyond sight physically.\u00a0 To see changes us entirely in our responses to everything we encounter.<\/p>\n<p>In the gospel reading today, I am not sure how many of us might have heard that the man born blind was born this way for the purpose of God. \u00a0In other words, he was blind because God made him this way or wanted him this way, so God\u2019s works could be revealed in him.\u00a0 You can interpret it this way, as you heard it today in English.\u00a0\u00a0 However, this is not really the case.\u00a0 At least, this is not fully the case.<\/p>\n<p>The words, \u201che was born blind\u201d have been added into the English text and are not there in the Greek version.\u00a0 This is an example of someone doing an interpretation and put in words that are not truly in the text but added by someone who believed they should be added to clarify the sentence.\u00a0 Doing so however changes the meaning.\u00a0 If we believe, and I do, that God does not cause people to be born with physical, mental or any type of \u201cdisability\u201d, \u201chandicap\u201d or anything that would put someone at a disadvantage then there is a better translation as to what Jesus is telling us.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNeither this man nor his parents sinned but his birth is so that God\u2019s works might be revealed in him.\u201d\u00a0 Or if we look at what the <i>Message Bible<\/i> says, \u201c\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cYou\u2019re asking the wrong question. You\u2019re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn1\"><sup><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It is not a question of physical sight or lack of physical sight.\u00a0 We are all born with sight, the sight to see the light of Christ as children of God.\u00a0 It is the darkness of the world that clouds our sight and sometimes causes us to be blind altogether. God can keep our eyes open or open them again.<\/p>\n<p>God sees not the physical of each of us but looks into our spiritual selves for where our sight is.\u00a0 Samuel was looking at the physical sides of the brothers of David and none of them had the sight that God was looking for.\u00a0 It so happens that David was handsome but it was what God saw inside of David, it was the spiritual side that God wanted of David and of us too.\u00a0 David had his faults as a human being and we have our share too.\u00a0 God used David to accomplish God\u2019s goals on earth but at the same time, God worked in and upon David spiritually.\u00a0 The outward appearance of us is a sign of who we are and can be.<\/p>\n<p>The outward appearance I speak of is also not what you may think of either.\u00a0 It is not the fact that we may be good-looking, tall dark and handsome or have a body that is considered a \u201cperfect measurement, like 36, 26, 36\u201d.\u00a0 The outward appearance comes in how we respond to what God does, what God is, who Christ is and what Christ does and will do for the world and us.\u00a0 In our service to others, we show our spiritual side to others and God.<\/p>\n<p>The sight that God has and the sight we are to have are much deeper than sight upon a physical level.\u00a0 It is not about sight but about seeing like no other.\u00a0 It is about a relationship to God and God\u2019s people, in seeing.\u00a0 In 2009 there was a movie that came out, where the theme song, along with much of the focus of the aliens shown in the movie, that focuses upon seeing beyond the physical bounds.<\/p>\n<p>Avatar Theme Song:\u00a0 I see you<\/p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ek5C0NhnNlA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<p>I see you<br \/>\nI see you<\/p>\n<p>Walking through a dream, I see you<br \/>\nMy light in darkness, breathing hope of new life<br \/>\nNow I live through you and you through me, enchanting<br \/>\nI pray in my heart that this dream never ends<\/p>\n<p>I see me through your eyes<br \/>\nBreathing new life, flying high<br \/>\nYour love shines the way into paradise<br \/>\nSo I offer my life as a sacrifice<br \/>\nI live through your love<\/p>\n<p>You teach me how to see all that&#8217;s beautiful<br \/>\nMy senses touch a world I never pictured<br \/>\nNow I give my hope to you, I surrender<br \/>\nI pray in my heart that this world never ends<\/p>\n<p>I see me through your eyes<br \/>\nBreathing new life, flying high<br \/>\nYour love shines the way into paradise<br \/>\nSo I offer my life, I offer my love, for you<\/p>\n<p>When my heart was never open<br \/>\n(And my spirit never free)<br \/>\nTo the world that you have shown me<br \/>\nBut my eyes could not envision<br \/>\nAll the colors of love and of life evermore<\/p>\n<p>Evermore<br \/>\n(I see me through your eyes)<br \/>\nI see me through your eyes<br \/>\n(Living new life flying high)<br \/>\nFlying high<\/p>\n<p>Your love shines the way into paradise<br \/>\nSo I offer my life as a sacrifice<\/p>\n<p>And live through your love<br \/>\nAnd live through your life<br \/>\nI see you<br \/>\nI see you<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn2\">[2]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When you hear these words can you see or do you only say I see?\u00a0 Why do we do what we do?\u00a0 For who do we do what we do?\u00a0 Is it about us?\u00a0 Is it about appearance?\u00a0 If we do something as a response to our God, because we think we must, because if we don\u2019t we will not go to heaven or have eternal life or whatever, we have left the road of discipleship. We can have all the outward appearance of a disciple, Prayer, Weekly Worship, Bible Reading, Service, Spiritual Friendship and Giving but still do not produce fruits in the labor.<\/p>\n<p>When we intentionally try not to be as God intends for us to be. If it is about doing, not being, being the light of the Lord, living as the children of the light, then we need to look out and heed what Jesus says to the fig tree in Mark 11, Jesus; <sup>13\u00a0<\/sup>Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. <sup>14\u00a0<\/sup>He said to it, \u201cMay no one ever eat fruit from you again.\u201d And his disciples heard it. <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn3\"><sup><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> <sup>20\u00a0<\/sup>In the morning as they passed by, they (Jesus and His disciples) saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn4\"><sup><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What do you tell a person who says they are trying to be a disciple but you do not see the fruits?\u00a0 I have heard this next statement from a few people and I too have said it. \u00a0\u201cFake it until you believe it.\u201d\u00a0 Thus the outside appearance also becomes in the inward spiritual appearance.\u00a0 Is this dangerous?\u00a0 Do we dare tell someone that, encourage that in anyway?\u00a0 Yes, we do!\u00a0 Yes, I will and do encourage it!\u00a0 If someone is willing to do this, then we already can have faith ourselves that there is a spark of faith, even the size of a mustard seed, which God can see, God can use, God can grow until the faith is unshakeable and the appearance for the sake of appearance becomes appearance with fruits of the labor in the name of Christ for the sake of Christ and the world, in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n<p>But\u2026but\u2026.but\u2026what about, what if, ahhhhhh. Do not over think about what we do and why we do in response to God.\u00a0 I have a tendency; we as humans have a tendency to over think the simple because simple cannot be simple, right?\u00a0 We are to often being told that nothing in life is free on our part.\u00a0 If it looks to good to be true than it must not be true.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the simple truth, that when we allow our eyes to be opened to, allow the Spirit to work in us, that all will fall into place and we can rest assured in the faith of God in Christ for us.\u00a0 The simple truth that Jesus tells us is, \u201c \u2018You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.\u2019 <sup>38\u00a0<\/sup>This is the greatest and first commandment. <sup>39\u00a0<\/sup>And a second is like it: \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 <sup>40\u00a0<\/sup>On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.\u201d<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn5\"><sup><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Simple but it is a truth that we can follow.\u00a0 When we fail, as we shall, we also can take to heart that we are forgiven in and because of the faithfulness of God in Christ, Jesus.\u00a0 Today we even confessed our sins to God in the name of Jesus and are told that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.\u00a0 Yes, even for those with the faith, the size of a mustard seed. To see changes us entirely in our responses to everything we encounter.\u00a0 What can you see?<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\" \/>\n<div>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref1\"><sup><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> Eugene H. Peterson, <i>The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language<\/i> (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Jn 9:3\u20135.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> Songwriters FRANGLEN, SIMON \/ HARRELL, THADDIS \/ HORNER, JAMES, (Published by<br \/>\nLyrics \u00a9 Sony\/ATV Music Publishing LLC, FOX MUSIC, INC.),<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref3\"><sup><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> <i>The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version<\/i> (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 11:13\u201314.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref4\"><sup><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> <i>The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version<\/i> (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 11:20.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref5\"><sup><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> <i>The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version<\/i> (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 22:37\u201341.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Audio Version 1 Samuel 16:3, 5-13 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-7,13,17-21,24-25,28-31 Is being blind about not having sight?\u00a0 It could be, if we are speaking only in physical terms.\u00a0 The gospel speaks of sin and sight, cause and effect.\u00a0 But does it really?\u00a0 To see is beyond sight physically.\u00a0 To see changes us entirely in our &#8230; <span class=\"more\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2014\/03\/29\/is-seeing-believing\/\">[Read more&#8230;]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[59,37,10,60,83,61,39,53],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-admin","4":"post-858","6":"format-standard","7":"category-blindness","8":"category-discipleship","9":"category-jesus","10":"category-seeing","11":"category-sermon","12":"category-sight","13":"category-sin-2","14":"category-vision"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2m6h5-dQ","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3689,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2026\/02\/15\/i-once-was-blind-but-now-i-see\/","url_meta":{"origin":858,"position":0},"title":"I 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