Mark 8:22-26…
Gradual grace…
These differing instances we see in the gospel accounts point us to the fact that we are to look to Jesus in faith, not look for a formula or method. It is about the relationship that results, not simply the results themselves. To be sure, all saved sinners trust the same Savior, and believe the same gospel. They experience the same grace, but they do not all experience grace the same way.
“Do you see anything?” Jesus requires an acknowledgement from the man of both his disability and the deliverance he was experiencing. Most times the work needing to be done is far more extensive than we can readily appreciate. The Great Physician is interested in more than cosmetic surgery. Jesus has to remove the lens of lust (I want it now!) from the eyes of our heart if we are to truly see the depth of our deliverance. He doesn’t just want to heal and deliver us, He wants us to trust and treasure Him. In order to do this, sometimes the works of grace are gradual. Sometimes deliverance is by degrees.
Gradual grace is also a means to keep us from gloating, speaking of our great faith rather than God’s great grace. We wound other tender consciences when we exalt our triumph instead of exalting Christ. Some people are still in the “I see trees” stage.
You see, when we were spiritually dead, the Enemy blinded our spiritual eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). Then God said “let there be light” and we were born again (2 Corinthians 4:6). Even so, as believers we still don’t see perfectly yet (1 Corinthians 13:12). However, we can increase our spiritual sight as we behold Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). It may take a while to have a mature vision of God (cf. Hebrews 5:12-14). We must keep focusing on Christ and growing in our spiritual sight, or we will become nearsighted and unfruitful (2 Peter 1:9). If that happens we will miss the forest from the trees.
3 comments:
We must continually be growing in grace. When we're not our focus has turned to ourselves which results in nearsightedness and unfruitfulness. Insightful. Lord help us to be quick to recognize and redirect our energy when we fall into the trap of self indulgence.
"Even so" "I want it now"! Thank you for this my vision was a little cloudy!
P.
The Great Physician is interested in more than cosmetic surgery.
Amen!
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