The work of God is not primarily about rules. It is primarily about people.

Jesus says if you want to do the work of God, start by paying attention to people.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were so devoted to showing their righteousness that they followed the rules at the exclusion of people, and missed the essence of the work of God.

The essence of the work of God is love! And The place where love starts is paying attention.

 

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If you have your bible turn to John 9 starting at verse one.

Today we’re going to look at a story about a man who was ignored his whole life… but then his whole life changed when Jesus broke the rules to extend hope and healing to him.

John 9:1

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.

Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,”he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”

Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

This story is about Jesus noticing someone most people ignored.

There’s a common scene:

A couple is sitting together. She’s pouring her heart out in conversation, while he’s working on his phone.

She gets more and more frustrated.

Finally, she can’t hold in her frustration any more and says to him, “You’re not listening to me.”

He says, “Of course I’m listening to you. I can repeat every word you said.” And he does.

Here’s the question. Is she satisfied with that?

No, she’s not satisfied with that. Why not?

She doesn’t want him just to get the words. She’s not interested in having a conversation with Siri. She wants him to put down the phone, look her in the eye and pay attention to her.

Am I right?

By the way, this could go either way. It could be the woman who’s looking at her phone and the man who is in conversation. It could be either way.

Paying attention is one of the most powerful forces in the world.

Studies have been done on this.

One study was done in a college classroom.

The students in the class were all in on this experiment.

The students were asked to pay NO attention to the teacher when he taught from the right side of the room. They were asked not to give him eye contact or even look at him.

As he moved to the left side of the room, they would sit up straight. The farther he moved to the left, the more attention students would give him.

When he was by the wall on the left hand side, students would take notes, smile, nod and maintain eye contact.

By the end of the quarter, this teacher was standing in the corner of the left side of the room the entire time.

Paying attention to people shapes their behavior and shapes their lives. It’s a very powerful force.

Any of you who have spoken in a public setting know how powerful attention is.

When you speak, there are certain faces that encourage you.

I find this week after week.

Some of you by physically paying attention give me energy.

There are certain faces I look for. By the way you smile, nod and make eye contact, you’re saying, “Yes, I’m getting it. Keep going.”

There are other faces it’s better not to look at.

The first time I ever preached, someone fell asleep. It was a devastating experience.

I can still remember riding