Bear Vent

In the Gospels we read of religious leaders who were determined not to acknowledge Jesus to be the Son of God. Whether He cast out devils, or raised the dead; whether His lips spoke divine wisdom, or His face shone with heavenly goodness, they had already decided not to believe in Him, and they would also prevent the people from believing. Is it a wonder if the eyes they willfully shut would, as punishment, be sealed up in complete darkness? Those are in a dangerous state who refuse to think of their duty to God; but those are in a much more dangerous state who only have a facade of “religion,” and call it true godliness. They are the most bitter enemies to the truth. Heedless sinners often have a kind of respect for sincere Christians, and express a wish that they be like them; but those who trust in a mere outward appearance of piety, despise and hate real believers. While they purposely close their eyes against the doctrines of Christ, they confidently claim that they know the truth...

Note: Read the full story of the healing of the man born blind in John 9 . ——————— Jesus asked the man born blind whom He had healed, “Do you believe on the Son of God?” The poor man answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?” Ignorance was the only thing that kept this man from believing. The Lord immediately took it away by saying, “You have both seen Him, and it is He who talks with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. We are not in his state of ignorance. None of us can say, “Who is the Son of God, that we might believe on Him?” We heard since childhood that JESUS was the Son of God. Though we have not seen Him, and though He has not talked with us, yet we know that He died for us, and that He is always living to plead on our behalf, if we come to God in His name. The poor man did not know so much as this, when he said, “Lord, I believe.” Yet how hard-hearted and ungrateful we should deem him, if he had not believed in the One who had done...

May the Lord give us grace not to be afraid of mere humans, who whither like the grass and disappear; but to fear Him who stretched out the skies and laid the foundations of the earth, even Him who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and will raise us also, if we believe in Him. For what is man, and what his smile? The terror of his anger, what? Like grass he flourishes a while, But soon his place shall know him not. Thro’ fear of such an one shall I The Lord of Heav’n and earth deny?