September 3 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 9:1-11:

¹And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
²And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
³Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
⁴I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
⁶When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
⁷And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
⁸The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
⁹Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
¹⁰Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
¹¹He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

Devotional

Jesus spoke these words just before He gave sight to the man born blind. Jesus was sent of the Father to do his will, to ac­complish the works which the Father gave him to do. Jesus was obedient to his Father. He said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." Jesus could do "nothing of himself, but what he saw the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also the Son doeth likewise." And these works that the Father gave him to finish bore witness that the Father had sent him. He was ever diligent about his Father's business. It was yet day, but Jesus realized, that the night was coming, when no man can work. So He worked until He completed his task. He could say: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." And He also finished all the suffering which He was to endure. On the cross He said, "It is finished," and gave up his spirit. He was faithful.

Are we faithful in the work the Father gives us to do? We are admonished by Paul "not to be slothful in business [the Lord's business]; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." Paul also wrote: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." And lastly, we are called to suffer; "because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." Are we faithful?

Prayer

Merciful God and Father, keep us from all human inventions and useless activity, as we labor in Thy kingdom. Fill us with a holy zeal for Thee and Thy cause. May Thy Holy Spirit guide and direct us in everything we do. Help us to wield the sword of the Spirit, Thy Holy Word, and to use the shield of faith, wherewith we can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Help us always to pray, pray without ceasing, and in everything to give thanks. Sanctify us through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: John 4:34; 5:19, 36; John 9:4; 17:4; 19:30; Rom. 12:11; Gal. 6:10; 1 Pet. 2:21.

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