SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “The Blind Guides”

*DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department

THEME: I WILL GO

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Topic: The blind guides

_Jesus answered, “Every plant that my Father in heaven has not planted himself will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from the Pharisees. They are blind leaders. And if a blind man leads another blind man, then both men will fall into a ditch.” Matt. 15:13-14_

The Parable of the blind Leading the blind in Matt 15:10-20, compels us to examine and reexamine what is truly important in living our lives as God’s children. It contrasts outward religious and often pretentious acts to what is truly important – what is deep inside of us, what is deep inside our hearts, our faith in God, trust in God and obedience to God.

In The Bible days, there were several rules about what to eat and what not to eat, and a great deal of emphasis was placed on washing your hands, and so on.

The Pharisees and religious leaders of the day put a lot of importance on all these things. It became easy for many to believe that as long as one kept those rules and regulations, they were fine with God – even when their inner hearts and thoughts were far away from God. Jesus called this attitude and common occurrence an example of the blind leading the blind.

If our focus is on outward acts of religion, if what we care about the most is what others can see or say, then we are blind, and whoever is following us is blind and we are all on a road to destruction in that case (God forbid)! Conversely, if our hearts are right with God, everything else will ultimately fall into place, and by God’s grace we will live lives that are truly pleasing to God – regardless of what others might think of us.

This parable also serves as a strong warning to us to be careful who we follow. We need to continually put our trust in God, not in man. This is not to minimize the importance of good, God-led spiritual leaders, teachers and role models. But we have to ask God to continually give us wisdom as well as spiritual discernment, so that we do not just follow anybody that claims to be on the right path blindly.

We have to rely on the help of God’s Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, help us to grow and know God more and more each day, and to understand exactly what God desires and expects from us. We have to pray that God will give us wisdom to know right from wrong, so we do not follow blindly and end up in a pit (or a ditch)!

*Song*
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free

Silently now I wait for thee
Ready, my God, thy will to see
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

*Prayer*
Dear Lord, I pray that You open my eyes and help me see! Help me to be spiritually discerning, that I may not unknowingly follow anyone into a pit! I pray concerning those I look to for guidance – my pastor, mummy, daddy, teachers ; as well as my siblings and friends whom I am ‘leading’ by example, mentorship or otherwise, that You O Lord may help us to lead aright – as You desire. May I never ever lead others astray. Amen.