Lord, I Believe

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains. John 9:35-41

Taking responsibility for one's behavior seems lacking these days. We like to blame others for our vile acts. And we seem to be lacking belief yet gullible to facts we find on social media. We live in a world that does not honors faithfulness but instead we honor the flashy and shallow. Jesus and the man he healed were grilled by the religious leaders who enjoyed controlling faith and truth. The poor healed man and his family were entangled in a theological debate for control which they had no part in. The man just wanted to know who to believe in and Jesus offered himself. We are invited today to accept the simple and complete offer of Jesus, our shelter, healer and our home.

Loving Creator who knows us each by name

you bring healing and light in our darkness

you walk with us unseen in our sorrows

and you call us simply to say, I believe.

We want clear and fast answers to problems

we are impatient, untrusting, unbelieving

yet all our answers are found in you Lord

our ground of being our very home.

Help us, Lord, to live daily believing in you

who was and is willing to sacrifice all for us

you bring healing and light to us even now

and surround us with your eternal arms of love. Amen.