Trials

Devotional

How do you respond when your faith is tested? Are you like the blind men in Matthew 9 who, despite their lack of sight, found a way to follow Jesus, whom they believed to be the Messiah based on hearing alone? Do you persevere in the waiting, even in the silence, knowing that every trial serves a greater purpose? Or do you allow your impatience to deplete your faith? The things of this world are easy-access and immediate–a direct contrast to the persistent, faithful waiting Christians are called to exercise in their pursuit of Jesus.

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

MATTHEW 9:27-31

Questions:

What do you gather from how the two blind men approached Jesus in verse 27?
What impact, if any, did tha tteaching have on your life? Explain.
When is it most difficult for you to approach Jesus for mercy?
When is it most difficult for you to approach Jesus for mercy?
What can stop you from cultivating a faith that is persistent?
How can this group help you to overcome the things that can stop you?

Practice The Way of Jesus:

In Philippians 2:12-16a, Paul admonishes the believers to “do everything without grumbling” that they may become blameless and shine like stars among this generation. In not grumbling, expressing a complaint in a bad-tempered way, they are able to allow God to work in them and hold firmly to his word. This week, practice gratitude instead of grumbling and meditate on all that God has blessed you with. When a concern does arise, look to be a part of the solution for the concern you see instead of grumbling.