And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Here are four things we can from Bartimaeus:
- He was a man of Faith: Even when he couldn’t see Jesus he believed in His Lordship, authority and power. Do you have faith when you can’t see what you seek?
- He had determined perseverance in the face of opposition: How do you act in the face of opposition and discouragement? Pray that the Lord may grant you grace in any kind of opposition and discouragement you will face this week.
- His response to the call of Jesus was immediate: Pray that whenever the Lord calls you to do something for Him, you will not procrastinate but response with eagerness and enthusiasm.
- He knew precisely what he wanted: As you pray this week, be very specific with what you need Jesus to do for you.
- He was a man of gratitude: Are you grateful to Jesus for what he has done for you, or do you suffer from a spirit of entitlement?
May the Lord’s hand rest upon you and all those you love and pray for.
Every blessing,
Patches