"Lord, I want to see!"
Luke 18:41
I breezed through Matthew's account of the healing of the blind men with familiarity. As I started to breeze through the healing of Bartimaeus I was struck by the words of our key verse. Luke's account, particularly verse 41 stopped me. The man told the Lord exactly what He wanted. He did not skirt the issue. He did not mince words. The Lord asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" And he exclaimed, "I want to see!" (Did you notice the exclamation mark?) Luke 18:41
Read Jesus' response out loud.
"All right, receive your sight!
(Did you notice the exclamation mark?)
He believed then he could see. This man received physical healing. He was blind physically and God restored his sight. But looking deeper, we can apply these same truths to spiritual and emotional healing as well as our personal needs. (Did you notice the exclamation mark?)
So many times we believe (Oh, am I talking to myself here.) that we don't believe we deserve from God or that we have the "right" to ask God for exactly what we want. (Keep in mind-God answers our prayers with our good in mind, His glory to be shown, and within the context of His perfect will.) This scripture tells us we can ask. Did ya'll get that? We can ask.
All this is good but Bartimaeus had to do his part. He had to receive. Jesus told Him to "receive your sight." Bartimaeus had to open his eyes and receive with his heart. This was not a matter of unbelief, the belief was already there. He knew who Jesus was. He knew what Jesus could do. He called him Lord. We can receive sight into our personal needs. We can receive sight to the answers for our spiritual matters. We can receive sight into our emotional well-being.
I "see" it like this:
- Believe with our heart
- Ask with our mouth
- Open our eyes
- Receive our sight
9 Comments:
Wendy, sometimes I wonder if I really want what I say I want. (Does that make sense?) I think the word "receive" here is key. There is so much that is ours in Christ, and I see Him standing with hands outstretched ready to freely give, but we do not receive. What keeps us from receiving? Lack of faith? Pride? Fear? Contentment? Just wondering...
The verse I camped on today was, "So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way." Luke 19:4
Do you remember singing the "Zacchaeus" song in Sunday School? I even recall all the actions. The climbing motions. Shielding my eyes from the sun as Zacchaeus looked for The Son. I think I always liked that story because Zacchaeus was small in statue, and at only 5'2", I'm not exactly tall either.
However, Zacchaeus didn't allow his physical limitations to fortify him with excuses or keep him from seeing Jesus. He went tree climbing. When walking or standing won't do, climbing becomes a necessity.
After reading this story, my mind began to question what lengths I would go to to see Jesus.
I've read of individuals who have literally 'camped out' days before tickets become available for some concert or special event, or when an item comes on sale at a Department Store. Others will wait for hours behind roped lines to catch a glimpse of a favourite Hollywood Star who passes through their town on a movie shoot. What about a parade? Do you go early to get a front row, curb side seat? I remember going early to the train station one morning to have a first-hand glance of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip as their train slowed down on it's journey through a neighbouring town. My Mom had dressed my sister and I in England's colours and we were waving the Union Jack flag. I'm sure the Queen looked right at us. I can still feel the anticipation and joy of that moment.
So, the question that is stirring my soul asks, what lengths will I go to in my pursuit of Christ? Will I wait hours in silence for Him to speak to me? Will I set the alarm earlier so that I can sit in His presence while the house is quiet, before anyone else awakens? Will I turn off the television to be in His Word? Will I pass on an invitation to go out if I haven't first gone away to a secluded spot with Him first? Will I plan and prepare supper a little earlier on Sunday evenings so my family and I can be back at church in time for the evening service at 6pm? What 'tree' do I need to climb?
Then, once I see Him, may I obey like Zacchaeus. God's Word says that Zacchaeus quickly climbed down. He wasted no time. His response to the call was immediate. I don't just want a brief encounter with Christ in passing, my view contained from a tree limb. After seeing Him I want to be walking by His side.
Jesus is well acquainted with trees. Christ climbed a hill to a tree. A tree that forever changed eternity. A tree that we don't ever have to climb. He carried the weight of the world on His shoulders the day He was nailed to that tree. If He sacrificed His life for me, surely I can do whatever it takes to see Him and meet with Him every day. No excuses. Good intentions aren't enough.
Lord, I pray that You will increase my longing for You. Just like the crowds threatened Zacchaeus's view, my life can be so full that it threatens to crowd You out of my view. Give me strength to climb whatever tree is necessary to see You. May I not be satisfied with 'general admission seating', but may I be found at Your feet, in Your presence, my eyes fixed on You.
Let's put on our hiking boots, and climb some trees today!
Joy
Good Morning Ladies, I love the fact that God knows everything about us and keeps our good in mind. He can see in the future, so He is so much better to be the one in charge! When something does not work out our way, we can trust that it was for the best! We seek His Will, we give Him the glory, and He allows what's best for us to happen. The more I know Him, the more blessed I feel that he is in charge. How blessed I am to be one of His chosen ones!
Today, I loved the account of, "Jesus Teaches about Serving Others," in Mark 10: 35-45 & Matthew 20:20-28. What a call to serve! We feel blessed when we bless others. Humbly & with love we offer our service to those around us. To intentionally, take time out each week to serve rather than to receive. Jesus, our role model, was passionate to serve those around Him. Look what this one man did while He was here on Earth. What a difference each one of us can make if we allow our heart to be passionate about blessing and serving those we come into contact with. In verse 45 & in Matthew 20: 28, He says to, "serve others."
Sending love & prayers your way. Praying that each one of us is drawn to His Word today and that his Word becomes alive and active in us! Wendy, thank you so much for your continued diligence in serving us through your teaching.
Love you!
Lori - AZ
Great comments ladies! Wendy I too grabbed onto what I read in the account of Bartimaeus. My nugget was in Mark 10:50 "Bartimaeus threw aside his coat"
What was a coat to a blind beggar back then? Everything! He gave up everything he probably owned to go to Jesus! Can I do the same?
Morgen - MN
Oh Morgen, I love that thought!!! What sweet abandon. I love the visual that depicts...throwing off my coat...following with eagerness. Willing to surrender all.
Thanks for the challenge,
Joy
Thank you all for your rich insights today! Each day the nuggets get better as we dig into the readings; even the very familiar stories have something new to show!
I too want to see; to see the grace of God around me, to see where He is sending me, to see the needs of others and respond, to see the path before me and to see the pitfalls along the way.
This worship song is going through my mind now:
Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus!
To reach out and touch Him
and say that I love Him!
Open my ears, Lord
and help me to listen;
Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus!
Have a great day everyone!
Karen
Hello everyone - my surgery went well, and I received a good report from the pathologist! I will begin the process for radiation therapy on Oct 29. Interesting to return and read Wendy & Joy's posts today... believe and receive.
I got the call on Tuesday night - the pathology report came back and the margins are clear (cancer free). Everything looks good, and someone will call in a few days to set me up for putting in the radiation port.
The call came that night... it was a good call... why then did I feel so heavy in my heart? I didn't tell my husband about the call. I didn't call my daughter and share the news with her. I sat at the table, my throat aching from unshed tears. My husband must have sensed by sadness, thinking it was the effects of my surgery, "Are you feeling okay?" I told him I was tired and went to bed, but sleep would not come.
Unbidden, the tears started to fall, "Oh God, I'm so unworthy of this news... I don't deserve this." What my tears so freely released, my mind could not let go... He is worthy, I am not.
And the gentle reminder came in the night, the Lord is my Shepherd... the very words given to me at the beginning of this cancer journey. "I will lead [Susan] by ways [she] has not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide [her]; I will turn the darkness into light before [her] and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake [her]." Is 42:16.
I believe God has done all that and more.
And now I lay in the stillness... ready, once again, to receive the grace that I don't deserve yet He loves me anyway. "As a shepherd carries a lamb I have carried you close to my heart." Is 40;11.
Listening to His heartbeat...
Susan
Oh Susan, we celebrate with your! You are worthy because of Jesus. Receive my friend receive.
Much Love
Wendy
Girls...guess what??? My daddy called me this afternoon...and next Wednesday, on my Mom's b'day, my dad is coming home!!!! I wish I could have been with my mom and sister when they told him, but I'm not well today so didn't want to pass on any germs. Dad is coming home!!! Didn't think I'd ever say that. The Lord has done amazing things and answered many prayers. Many of you prayed, so you are part of this miracle. It will have been almost 8 months since dad went into the hospital and our unexpected journey began. Thank you for walking this road with me. Celebrate with me now!!!
Rejoicing,
Joy
Wowzie wow! To Joy and to Susan! God is SO good! We can never thank Him enough for his goodness and mercy.
Enjoy every minute of the blessings His given!
Morgen
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