Mud In Your Eye
He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight” John 9:11 csb
I remember reading this passage of scripture and feeling confused by it. Later, I had the chance to speak with Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, and I asked him why he thought Jesus performed this miracle in such a specific way. Why not just speak a word, and the man would be healed instantly? Pastor Chuck paused and said, "Frank, when it comes to understanding the methods and reasons behind how Jesus does things, I don’t have an answer except to say that He is God, and He chose to do it that way.” At the time, I wasn't fully satisfied with that answer. But over the years, I've come to accept that sometimes, that's simply how Christ chooses to work.
Throughout my life, I’ve realized that God doesn’t always act in the ways I expect. Often, He seems to take us the long way around to reach our destination, using methods we might never choose on our own. For instance, the way I came to pastor Calvary Chapel Ascend wasn’t the “typical” route. Most men go through formal training or church-planting networks and are then sent to start a new church where there’s a need. My path, however, was very different—it began when another church closed due to unfortunate circumstances, and those left searching for a church home followed me to my backyard. Over time, I’ve heard countless stories of how God has provided for people through unique, unexpected paths they could never have predicted.
What I’ve learned is that Jesus often uses unconventional methods to fulfill His will. In the Gospels, He healed people in a variety of ways—each situation was as unique as the individual He was healing. If Jesus had always used mud, for example, human nature would lead us to try and replicate that method, turning it into a formula for healing. We’d end up with “mud-flinging healing services” all over town! The truth is, God is free to use any means He sees fit. He cannot be confined to a method or boxed in by our expectations. I’ve learned to give Him space to work as He chooses, to walk by faith, and to trust in His methods—so that He alone receives the praise and glory for every miracle and blessing in my life.
I leave you with the following verse as a final example of unconventional healing that applies to this topic: So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean. Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel. 2 Kings 5:14-15 csb
Where is the Lord asking you to dip or to wash, where in what situation is He saying, “Trust Me.”
Agape,
Frank
Distributers Not Manufacturers
“You give them something to eat,” He (Jesus) told them. “We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they (the disciples). Luke 9:13csb
While reading a chapter in the book On Being A Servant by Pastor Warren W. Wiersbe, I came across a powerful insight: Christians are called to be "distributors, not manufacturers." This concept brought me immense relief because it eases the pressure that often weighs on those who serve the Lord. As a pastor, I sometimes feel the burden of needing to have all the answers and say just the right things. Perhaps you've felt that way too—whether at work, at home with your kids, or in ministry.
The disciples faced a similar challenge when Jesus gave them what seemed like an impossible task. The crowd that had gathered to hear Jesus speak and be healed numbered about 5,000, and it was dinner time with no food in sight! Imagine the stress of hosting a large party and realizing you don’t have enough to feed everyone. The disciples brought this problem to Jesus, and His response must have left them bewildered: “You feed them!” They must have wondered, "How? What are we supposed to do?"
But Jesus was teaching them—and us—that it's not our responsibility to manufacture solutions or resources. Instead, He asked them to bring what little they had—five loaves and two fish—and trust Him to provide the rest. They were focused on the problem, not realizing that their solution, the Bread of Life, was right there with them. As we know, Jesus multiplied the little they offered, and the disciples learned an invaluable lesson that day—a lesson that still holds true for us.
We can rest assured that we don’t have to manufacture solutions our own. We are simply called to distribute what He gives us to those in need, especially His Word. So, bring Him the little you have and watch Him do something abundant with it. He's got your back—there’s no need to worry!
Agape,
Pastor Frank