John 9:25 contains one of the simplest and bravest testimonies in Scripture. The man who had been born blind stood before religious authorities who wanted him to deny what had happened to him. They had already decided what was acceptable to believe. They already had the "correct" answer.

But the man refused to pretend.

"I don't know what to tell you about all your arguments," he essentially says. "What I do know is this: I was blind, and now I see."

That answer cost him something. Before this moment, his parents had already shown fear. They answered cautiously because they worried about what the authorities might do to them. They feared exclusion. They feared consequences. Honestly, most of us understand that fear. Sometimes keeping quiet feels safer than speaking honestly about what we have experienced.

But this man chose truth over conformity.

Notice something important: the blind man did not heal himself. Jesus opened his eyes. Grace did the work. But the man still had to decide whether he would embrace what Jesus had done and stand by it when pressure came.

That still happens today.

Sometimes opening your eyes changes relationships. Sometimes it disrupts old assumptions. Sometimes people become uncomfortable when your lived experience no longer fits their expectations or categories. Faith in Jesus does not always make life easier socially. Sometimes it makes a person inconvenient.

But there is quiet courage in simply telling the truth.

"I don't know everything. I can't answer every argument. But I know what Christ has done in me."

And sometimes that testimony speaks more powerfully than winning the debate ever could.

Father, sometimes it's hard to simply tell the truth. We ask not only that you would help us to see past our own preconceptions to perceive the truth, but to give us the strength to proclaim it and live it. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn King.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.