Am I Blinded Or Am I Blind?
LENT DEVOTIONAL 2026 | DAY 32
Luke 18:18–43 (NIV)
By Alex Lai, Lay Leader Representative
READ:
Luke 18:18–43 (NIV)
In Luke 18:18–43, we read the stories of two men who encountered Jesus, but with very different outcomes. The rich ruler in vv18–30 went away very sad while the blind beggar in vv35–43 went away healed.
The rich ruler was a morally upright and pious man but he probably felt that there was something lacking in his life. In reply to his question on how to inherit eternal life, Jesus told the rich ruler to sell all his possessions and distribute to the poor and follow Him. On hearing this, the rich ruler walked away sorrowful. His wealth was not something he owned; it was something that owned him. His real god was comfort and what he really worshipped was his wealth. Even though he was able to see, he was blinded by his possessions.
The blind beggar, who had no wealth and no possessions, was sitting by the roadside begging when he heard the crowd going by. He asked them what was happening and when they told him that Jesus was passing by, he immediately cried out to Jesus to have mercy on him. When the people in front rebuked him and told him to be quiet, he cried out even louder in desperation. Jesus stopped, listened and said to him, “Receive your sight, your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus. Even though he was blind, his spiritual eyes were opened and he could see Jesus.
The rich ruler had everything except the one thing that mattered most. In contrast, the blind beggar had nothing except the one thing that mattered most.
As I reflect on the past year, I have been blessed in all three important areas of my life—family, church ministry and work performance. If I am honest with myself, there are times when I take God’s blessings for granted and I find myself patting myself on my back and telling myself that I have done a great job. This passage reminds me to ask myself these difficult and uncomfortable questions. Are my eyes fixed on Jesus or is my vision clouded by my possessions and my comfort zones? What am I holding onto that keeps me from fully trusting Jesus? Do I crave the One who has saved me?
[ Reflection Questions ]
- What do you trust in more than Jesus? Are your possessions and comfort zones blinding you from seeing Jesus?
- Are you dependent on your own strength and wisdom?
- What is stopping you from crying out to Jesus for mercy? What is stopping you from surrendering all to Jesus?
