One Thing I Do Know

Joe Wittwer | December 21, 2011

Scripture:

John 9:25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Observation/application

Everyone has a story.  If you are a Christian, you have a BC story and an AD story.  “I was that but now I am this.” 

The once-blind-now-seeing man in John 9 finds himself the center of a controversy.  Jesus healed him on the Sabbath.  The Jewish leaders found this an intolerable violation of the Sabbath law.  The fact that the man was healed of blindness was completely lost on them—another example of how religion can blind us and cause us to lose the plot!  These religious leaders pressure the man to admit that Jesus must be a sinner and couldn’t be responsible for his healing.  He responds with this: “I don’t know whether he is a sinner or not.  One thing I do know: I was blind, now I see!”  For this he was thrown out of the synagogue!

The best apologetic for the Christian faith is a transformed life.  It is hard to argue with a life-changing encounter with Jesus!  “I once was…now I am…”  I thought about how I would complete that sentence.  I started with one thing, then thought of others…and ended up very encouraged by the changes God has made in me.  Some of these changes happened quickly; most of them have been a process; and many of them are still in process.  Here’s my list:

I once was…now I am…

  • Living for myself...living for Jesus and others
  • Immoral...true.
  • A taker...a giver.  
  • A curser...a praiser.
  • Without purpose or direction...living with purpose.
  • Dishonest...honest.
  • Insecure...who I am.
  • Arrogant...humble.
  • Argumentative...a listener.
  • Lost...found.
  • Looking for happiness...joyful.

Today at staff meeting, I asked our staff to complete this sentence, and we shared our answers.  It was amazing how different our stories were and yet the common thread was that Jesus had changed us.  

Read their stories by clicking here:

• I once was lost but now have purpose • Undisciplined/more disciplined • Immature/more mature • Very selfish/not as very selfish • Loved myself most of all/am learning to love others more than myself • Didn't have a bike or Mac/now I do • I was so materialistic and now I am prayerfully trying to let go of "mammon." • I once was a control freak, now God helps me trust • I once was insecure, now I am more comfortable with who I am. • I once lost my temper easily, now God helps me. • I once was religious and judgmental, now I see that as something God hates. • I was deceived, but now I have truth • I was living in darkness, now I have light • I was aimless, now I have direction • I was useless, now I have purpose • I was impatient, now I have grace • I was unforgiving, now I have mercy • I was self-absorbed, now I am engaged in other’s lives • I was afraid, now I have confidence in Christ • I was cold and busy, now I have compassion and new priorities • I was empty and now I am indwelled by the Holy Spirit • I was cast down but now I am standing • I had a lot, but now I have it all • I found my identity in doing, now its in Christ • I was people pleaser, now I’m a God pleaser • I was dead to Christ, now I’m alive in Christ • I was sick, but I’ve been healed • I once had religion, now I have a personal relationship with Christ • . . .filled with guilt and shame (to the point of not sleeping) ~ and now I’m forgiven. • . . .empty* ~ and now I’m filled with Christ, with joy, with abundant and overflowing life, with friends and family. • Insecure --> now I know God's view • Self-Reliant --> now I can ask God and people for help • Fearful --> now I fear God • Hidden/private --> now I'm confess (and grow/heal) • lonely --> now I love and care for others • selfish --> now I share and give • Undisciplined-Now I live with purpose. • Fearful /Anxious - Now I trust. • Self centered-Now I love people. • Afraid to Fail- now I have perspective. • Reluctant to criticism - now I'm teachable. • • Defensive - now I'm able to receive -I once was wandering aimlessly toward a life of destruction, but now I am walking with Jesus toward His good purposes. -I once lived for myself, but now I am Iiving in and for Him. -I once was a fool, but He has opened my eyes to what is true. -I once was alone, but now He lives in me. Slithering in the mud now I am soaring like an eagle! A dime a dozen now I am a priceless jewel! Looking for acceptance in the world, now I have found acceptance in my Lord! Restless, now I am resting in His everlasting arms! Running to the world, now I am running to His arms! Looking for acceptance in people, now I am part of His family! Weak now I am strong! Chasing the lie of the world, now I am engulfed by the truth! Lost in a crowd, now I am a child of the King!

 

What is your story?  How would you complete the sentence?

“I once was…now I am…”

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for changing us…and please, keep it up!