Scripture Reference: Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those who are being led away to death, hold back those staggering towards the slaughter.
Reflection
Rescue those……hold back those…..This verse implies a certain group in a state of desperation, so much so that they needed rescue. While the word “staggering” denotes drunkenness in our culture, here in the “Book of Wisdom,” it speaks primarily of those unable to see spiritually. The blind are given sight in the Bible numerous times and in numerous ways. One is healed instantly, another is given a task of obedience to usher in their healing. Another’s healing seemingly came in stages (Mark 8:24). Jesus could speak life to Jarius’s deceased daughter from a distance, but it was the blind who received the attention of His hands. The method then and now remains the prerogative of Jesus, but the issue remained the same. These folks were blind! It’s interesting that while Jesus’ disciples performed some miracles, healing the blind predominately fell to Jesus.
Stopping for the blind was a common practice of Jesus. I’m convinced that these repeated references were meant to highlight not only Jesus’ heart but also the seriousness of that culture’s greatest problem. And so it is with ours today, and that being spiritual blindness. Among the broken things we experience daily, injustice, trauma and pain, hunger, and homelessness, to name a few…the worst plight still today remains one of spiritual blindness…lostness. Jesus’ compassion and passion towards the blind accentuates time and again this message to us. The word “slaughter” projects a seriousness of crisis proportions, even more sobering than physical blindness. Indeed, it was lostness at the heartbeat of each of Jesus’ acts of kindness, from the feeding of thousands to the training of the twelve. It was the blind who were depicted as outcasts, beggars, dirty, ridiculed, and pushed aside. Sadly, this will one day be the reality for those who are the spiritually blind. They will beg one day for salvation, but it will be too late. Jesus in scripture is portrayed as hearing their cries above the noise, seemingly listening for those for whom He came to touch. Greater than blindness was the issue of lostness and each of Jesus’ healings propelled Him towards obedience of the cross. The blind who called to Jesus during those days pointed towards a future day of our calling to Him, remarkably able to see our need for a Savior.
Heart for the Homeless
The brokenness of this world is impossible to ignore. Physical and mental anguish are more normative than exceptional. Homes are broken, and lives lie in shambles, for we live in a broken world, and yes, how the broken cry out. We, with restored sight, have so much to share, most importantly, a remarkable story from Jesus. The one who sits on the throne says, “Behold, I am making all things new again…one life at a time. (Isaiah 43:19, Rev 21:5) While we walk these wilderness days, we will see the broken people. We have been there ourselves, but we have been healed! We are individuals and ministries, each of us gifted by God with passions representing our callings. We don’t create our passion; God does, and if we are passionate about something, God is blessing us. There is so much to be done, and with passion comes the understanding of the part He wants us to play. May we give God the credit for our passion, not ourselves. As we walk this wilderness walk together, may we harmonize our hearts and unite, knowing that in this day of brokenness, there remains one need that is still the most urgent, one that surpasses them all. Let’s join in prayer that the good that we do never be our end goal. Let’s acknowledge it as God’s gift pulsating us and giving us access and energy to answer the blind who calls to us. Oh friend, in all that we do, may that good become great as we address the greatest need of our day and time. May it be heard from our mouths, “Let me take you to the Healer. He wants to give you sight”.
Author: Eddie Capps
Eddie is the Director of the Haven of Rest. He was born in Easley and received an AS Degree from Anderson University, a BS Degree from Clemson University, and a Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Theological Seminary. Eddie is married to Jane Zeigler Capps, and they have a daughter and a son.
A heart for discipleship describes Eddie’s desire to work with the Haven of Rest. His life has been molded by men who have taken the Great Commission seriously. A brother-in-law, youth minister, and friend shaped Eddie as they walked before him in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, Eddie wants to walk with this same kind of contagious Christianity.
Leave a Reply