Blurry Vision or 20/20?

Jonathan Goforth, a missionary to China in the late 1800's went blind....or did he? This 1-minute devotion explains.

I've worn glasses since age twelve. Without them, my world is a blur. 

But there's more than one type of vision, and Jonathan Goforth illustrated this truth. 

After 45 years of mission work in China during the late 1800s and early 1900s, Jonathan Goforth went blind. 

Life in China was difficult and no one would have blamed 74-year-old Goforth if he'd retired to the safety and convenience of his Canadian homeland. Instead, Goforth refused to let his handicap stop him. 

Since he'd memorized most of the New Testament in English and Mandarin, he began scriptural counseling. 

Goforth was blind in one sense, but spiritually he had excellent vision. 

Without a good knowledge of God's Word, our lives are blurry. Having God's Word "hidden in our hearts" helps us "see" our sins clearly (Psalm 119:11) and we can focus on wisdom and light (Psalm 19:7-11). 

Physical blindness is often untreatable, but spiritual sight can always be improved. 

At the beginning of 2020 Bible Love Notes published a series of devotions on having 20/20 vision. That series is a good supplement to this devotion. I encourage you to check it out: Spiritual Vision. In addition, you might find this 1-minute devotion helpful: 6 Tips to Make Scripture Memory Easier.

Source: Jonathan Goforth, An Open Door to China, YWAM publishing 
While I recommend this book in the series, I do not recommend the book in the series called "Lottie Moon, Giving Her All for China." Lottie Moon's family had a large plantation and they were slave owners, but the book presents them as victims of the Civil War. I wrote YWAM about my concerns, and they made it clear that they were comfortable with the book.
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Life-Devotional-One-Minute-Reflections/dp/1087775760

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for
 Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. To find out more see 10 Reasons Why You'll Love Wisdom for LifeI also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet offering quiet time encouragement. Find out more HERE.



Jonathan Goforth, a missionary to China in the late 1800's went blind....or did he? This 1-minute devotion explains.

Bible Love Notes

1 comment:

  1. God Bless this man of God. What a living testimony!
    In Jesus name Amen

    ReplyDelete