March 26 Watch Your Door

John 11:37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
 
DO you remember John 9? Jesus healed a blind man. Many people and the ruling Jews wondered how the man was healed. The Jews questioned if he had been born blind. Many loud voices negated the miracle and Jesus. In addition, this healing occurred on a Sabbath. The ruling Jews charged Jesus with blasphemy against God’s law! It was impossible for Jesus to be from God, doing God’s work if he healed on the Sabbath!
    Their unbelieving hearts have not changed in the weeks since that confrontation. Their hard hearts now mock, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Their unbelief continues to discredit Jesus. Even more, they ridicule Martha’s and Mary’s confession, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32b) Unbelief’s dark cloak blinds many from knowing God’s blessings.
    Unbelief is grief, isn’t it? See Cain’s deep grief in Genesis 4:5 but on Cain and his offering God did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
    The Jews mocked Jesus; Cain mocked God. Cain’s unbelief led to his grievous life. Genesis 4:13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
    From Cain’s unbelief came the generations who eventually caused God to grieve his creation. Genesis 6:6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. In his grief, God destroyed the world with the flood to begin again through Noah. 
    The Jews’ remarks illustrate the sin that crouches at the door of our hearts, ready to assault our souls in a moment. Be on your guard. The Jews needed to believe in Jesus. They needed to call on the Lord to pray, “Help my unbelief.” How much more pleasant God’s world would be if God’s creation would pray such words and be humble to receive as the Lord gives.
    Psalms 147:1 Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!...3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 
    Praise God. Be satisfied in him.
 
Prayer: Lord, I pray for a growing faith to keep sin from crouching at my door. Amen.