August 13, 2022

Passage Read: John 9-10
Meditation Verse: 9:22

Thought

How hard it is to take a chance on God, who is not right beside us at all times. Word of Jesus' words and deeds had spread far and wide. His parents knew about Jesus and could see the miracle, but they feared being cut off from the synagogue. They were more concerned about safety and the declaration of the religious leaders than they were willing to believe what Jesus was saying and doing. And so it is with me. I would rather be accepted by the crowd and not take a chance on God, if His Word teaches something different than what is commonly accepted. But these parents would have found a new community to belong to, if they had been willing to trust Jesus. I too would likely find a new community if I were to be rejected for trusting God's Word over the erroneous teachings of believers.

Application

I need to give grace to those who don't understand or agree with me on significant teachings in Scripture, just as I would like to receive grace for believing something different from the rest of a community. There are certain basics that must be agreed upon in order to have true fellowship, and there are others that are important but disagreement doesn't have to force a break of fellowship, though it may be less satisfying fellowship. Disagreement could also cause grief in fellowship and a need to change groups, but that doesn't mean I need to deny another person's salvation. And if my understanding of God's Word causes others to excommunicate me, though I cannot see my error, I need to trust that if I'm correct, there will be others to welcome me, and certainly the Lord will not abandon me. I cannot let the fear of being cast out keep me from believing what I see in Scripture.