Martyrs today are defined by their desire to get their own way. It is selfish in nature and so is destructive to those about them. To sacrifice oneself for the glory of God (according to HIS definition) is the only contructive sacrifice one can make.

Responsibility for our actions is all very well, and responsibility for consequenses even better, but while the man was healed because of his faith, it was faith placed in Jesus and His nature of being the son of God that healed him. Faith in anything but God is empty, and faith in ourselves the emptiest of all.

Elijah was certain he was alone, and despaired. Where God is concerned, we are never alone, but we sometimes are so blind to the actions and beliefs of others we may seem alone.

We don’t expect an amputee to walk until he has crutches and a leg to stand on, but we expect the walking wounded to help others? Is a new believer tossed into the deep end and told to swim? Yes, most people in the church are too often lint gathering, and these are the ones that need to get up, help others, and stop centering on self, but the truly needy are the ones who suffer as we lump them in with the rest and tell them to “help themselves by helping others.”

How exactly, in this world and with our complete disregard for life, is this a good basis for any community? The concept of sacrifice has been taken so out of context that we have lost sight of why we would be willing to sacrifice.

Every day on the news you can find thousands of examples of people who are more than willing to sacrifice. The problem is that they’re willing to sacrifice human lives.

This mindset needs to be adjusted to reflect a respect for life.

Jesus did not attempt to blame the man for anything.

No, He did not. However, if you’ll read all of what is being conveyed here, you will see that it was not Christ who was responsible for the man’s sight being restored.

“Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”

He didn’t say, “I have made you well.” He didn’t even say, “God has made you well.” Christ made the specific point that it was the man’s own actions – his faith – that lead to the restoration of his sight.

Blame is not the issue. A lack of personal responsibility is the issue. If we want our lives to be happy and healthy and filled with God then it is up to us to make them that way.

Are we serious enough about community to take whatever steps we must to have the kind of community we prattle on about?

What if having that community requires you to be the only member for a long period of time? Are you willing to go without the company of other people in order to stand your ground on what you know is the way God wants you to live? Or would you create your own version of God’s way and settle for a man made community?

We wrongly toss needy fellow believers back into God’s hands and go out to help those outside.

1. Is there any better place to toss anyone?
2. The best way to help yourself is to help others. In leaving those people to make their own decisions – while watching us go on with what they should be helping us do – are we not showing them more love than if we sat there lying to them and telling them it’s ok for them to not get off their asses and go help the rest of the world?

Love can seem cruel sometimes.