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"You were born a total sinner!" [the Jewish leaders answered to the man who had been healed of his blindness and who said Jesus had to be from God]. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue.
—John 9:34 NLT
God despises the abuse of power. He repeatedly warned against it in Old Testament times, [1] and he warns those who teach and lead in his Kingdom that they had better do so honorably or they will stand under harsher judgment. When these religious authorities cannot discount the truth of the healed man's statements and they cannot discredit Jesus, they resort to shaming the man and expelling him from their society. In other words, they want to get rid of the witness and the evidence. Such behavior is damnable. If we are leaders — and we are all influencing someone, let's be warned of how awful such behavior is and how God abhors it.
[1] For example, Isaiah 10:1-2.
Almighty and holy Father, please give me the courage to always look for truth. Help me never be so self-deceived that I resort to such deplorable actions as these religious leaders in today's verse. Give me a teachable heart that yearns for your truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—John 9:34 NLT
Key Thought
God despises the abuse of power. He repeatedly warned against it in Old Testament times, [1] and he warns those who teach and lead in his Kingdom that they had better do so honorably or they will stand under harsher judgment. When these religious authorities cannot discount the truth of the healed man's statements and they cannot discredit Jesus, they resort to shaming the man and expelling him from their society. In other words, they want to get rid of the witness and the evidence. Such behavior is damnable. If we are leaders — and we are all influencing someone, let's be warned of how awful such behavior is and how God abhors it.
[1] For example, Isaiah 10:1-2.
Today's Prayer
Almighty and holy Father, please give me the courage to always look for truth. Help me never be so self-deceived that I resort to such deplorable actions as these religious leaders in today's verse. Give me a teachable heart that yearns for your truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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