GOD Morning! Am I Fooling Myself? / January 17, 2017

GOD Morning!


Am I Fooling Myself?


January 17, 2017










John 9:24-41


24 So a second time they called the man who had been [born] blind, and said to him, “Give God glory and praise [for your sight]! We know this Man [Jesus] is a sinner [separated from God].”25 Then he answered, “I do not know whether He is a sinner [separated from God]; but one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did He [actually] do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I already told you and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again and again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?” 28 And [at that remark] they stormed at him and jeered, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know [for certain] that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this Man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man replied, “Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes! 31 We know [according to your tradition] that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything [like this because God would not hear His prayer].” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins [from head to foot], and you [presume to] teach us?” Then they threw him out [of the synagogue].


Jesus Affirms His Deity


35 Jesus heard that they had put him out [of the synagogue], and finding him, He asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Sir? Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and [in fact] He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe [in You and Your word]!” And he worshiped Him [with reverence and awe]. 39 Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.”40 Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.


Let’s look at verses 39 through 41.


The Message Bible says it this way:


“Jesus then said, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.”


Some Pharisees overheard him and said, “Does that mean you’re calling us blind?”


Jesus said, “If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.”


Wow, I love the way Jesus exposed the Pharisees!


Sometimes we pretend that we don’t understand, when we really do understand. This is what the Pharisees were fond of doing. But Jesus was a Master at shifting their twists and turns right back around to truth.


Sometimes we who have known truth for all of or much of our lives can fool folks (even ourselves) into believing that we don’t understand.


We can fool ourselves into believing that we are innocent in our sin when our eyes are actually wide open to our sin.


No, Jesus is not calling us blind. He is calling us sinners.


Which brings me to another point.


We who know better must turn from our wicked ways and serve the God we claim to love.


I think I am serving God. But am I really serving God? Am I putting God first in my life every second of the day? Am I fooling myself? Am I claiming to see and yet blind to my sin? These are hard questions.


“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Romans 12:1


“Don’t be lazy, but be diligent in serving the Lord” Romans 12:11


Lagging behind translates a Greek word that means lazy.


“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Galations 6:9


“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1Cor. 15:58


“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Colossians 3:23-24


“Be fervent in spirit as you serve the Lord.” Romans 12:11






Fervent: Having or displaying a passionate intensity. Synonyms: impassioned, passionate, intense, vehement, ardent, sincere, heartfelt





Archaic definition: hot, burning, or glowing.






“Jim Elliot, who was martyred in Ecuador at age 28 in his attempt to take the gospel to the fierce Auca Indians, was a man who embodied true godly zeal. If you haven’t read his story, you’re missing a great blessing. His widow, Elisabeth Elliot, wrote Through Gates of Splendor [Spire Books], which tells the story of all five men who were murdered. Her book, Shadow of the Almighty [Zondervan] focuses more on Elliot’s life alone. Jim wrote in his diary (Through Gates of Splendor, pp. 19-20, italics in original), “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” Or, as Jonathan Edwards wrote as a young man in his 70 resolutions (The Works of Jonathan Edwards [Banner of Truth], 1:xx, # 6): “Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.” Both men are saying, “Don’t be indifferent about the Lord and His cause. Be fervent in spirit!” Stephen J. Cole






Am I fervent in spirit? Am I lukewarm?


“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Rev 3:16 KJV


“Serve the Lord.” Romans 12:11


I must serve the Lord as His slave, not a volunteer. A volunteer picks and chooses how and when she wants to serve. The Greek word for “serve” means to be enslaved.


If I’m not a slave to Christ, then I am enslaved to sin. Plain and simple.


What a joy it is to serve my King of kings. He gave up heaven and sacrificed Himself in order to rescue me from condemnation.









“Dear Jesus, sometimes I am fooling myself. Sometimes I believe that I am serving You fully when, in reality, I’m lukewarm. O God have mercy on me a sinner. O God please forgive me. How I love You. I long to serve You. You are worthy of my very best. My soul says Yes to You O Lord! I desire to be enslaved to You. What a small price to pay for the great price You paid for my salvation. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.”