Forthright Fixation

As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus…was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

For years Bartemaeus sat on the roadside mumbling for alms of meager charity. But what he really needed was sight, something only God Himself could restore. Do I believe God wants to provide for my big needs? Do I shout for grace? Or do I still sit begging for man’s sympathy when the Savior is passing by?

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Am I persistent in my plea? Do I believe God will answer or do I let the lies of the Devil, unbelief, and the facts of my circumstance silence me?

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

Jesus stopped. The God of the Universe on His way to Jerusalem to die heard the desperate cries of a poor blind man amidst the clamor of the pressing crowd. He always hears my prayers, takes interest in my personal need, and calls me to draw nearer to receive.

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

Are my prayers followed by expectation? Do I jump to my feet and go to Jesus, eagerly anticipating Him to work? Often, to receive His gifts, He asks me to first come to Him, to throw aside my cloak of doubt or self-reliance so that my heart is full of faith when He meets me.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

Jesus knew the man’s need. He knew before the foundation of the world that Bartemaeus would be blind, and He already planned to heal him. But it was the relationship that Christ wanted; He took time to converse with the beggar, to listen, and smile at the beloved child trembling at His feet. The sweat dripping from Bartemaeus’ forehead, his voice hoarse from shouting, his glazed eyes filled with faith. He was no longer content with coins or charity, he wanted to see. Do I recognize my need of the Father’s specific grace everyday? Do I fervently ask Him to do great things?

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

God delights to meet my need! It gives Him the opportunity to display His glorious riches. Great faith reflects the greatness of its Object. And, like Bartemaeus, after receiving grace, I will not return to the roadside to beg, but will fix my eyes on the Savior and follow Him on the road with greater thanksgiving, devotion, and joy.

Friends, let’s be like Bartemaeus. God’s already healed our blindness by saving us, how much more will He meet our smaller needs? He calls us to eagerly anticipate His grace, receive it in abundance, and whole-heartedly follow Him in response to His mercy. So ”Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

(Story taken from Mark 10:46-52, NIV)

Filed under: Faith, Grace, Prayer