“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.” – Mark 10:52 {ESV}
For many of us the most heartbreaking experience we have had as followers of Christ is to have forfeited something we once were so blessed by. I’m not talking about material things so much as I am referencing soul-issues. Nearly ever time we come to the conclusion that we are no longer in possession of something we once treasured, we can trace its departure from us back to some form of sin. When joy is no longer the resident of our heart’s home, we find that something else evicted it. If peace packed up and moved out while we were preoccupied with managing issues of life, we sense a deep sting. When serving Christ became more important than knowing and loving Him we were oh-so-blind to have not recognized the folly of standing idly by as our strength left us. Beyond these soul-issues we should also acknowledge that opportunities, people and ministries that we took for granted were removed out of our lives and entrusted to others who might retain appreciation of them. Losing what is precious and finding ourselves holding an inferior replacement is a regrettable place to be.
Jesus meets a man in Mark 10 who once had, then lost and would have again. This is an aspect of grace worthy of our focus on this Lord’s Day.
We commonly refer to this man as Blind Bartimaeus. We know little of him beyond the fact that he was once a sighted man who had fallen blind. He cried out for mercy from Christ and our Lord asked the blind beggar pinpointedly what he wanted. Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” I find it noteworthy that the Lord would have clearly known what the man needed but required him to ask specifically for it himself. We can become easily entangled in convoluted theology about prayer instead of just asking God the specific thing we desire. Jesus knew the man’s need and desire but did not seem inclined to address it until the man spoke it Himself. Once Bartimaeus humbly did so, his ability to see was restored. He received again something he had previously lost.
Sunday mornings offer hope to many who have obscured vision, dulled spiritual senses and lesser loves occupying their hearts. Sundays offer us a time to gather together and participate in an atmosphere of reverence, prayer, focus, praise and learning. Above all days of the week, we sense God speaking to the issues of our lives on Sundays. The proclaiming of His word is saturated with occasion to hear God’s addressing of things we have lost…or are in the process of losing. We can cry out for general petitions of mercy as Blind Bartimaeus did at first; we usually learn that the relief will not arrive until we get painfully specific with the Lord about our great need.
God, I have lost my joy. My faith is theoretical. My praise is dust-dry. My hope is a facade. I am stillborn to my Bible. My passion for souls has been usurped by a passion for me. Your glory is second to my own. I weep for the wrong things these days, my Lord. I seek pleasure and leisure above disicpline and sacrifice. I am critical of others and am growing tempted to tear down instead of build up. My money is mine, all mine. My time is too taxed to offer any to others. I, Lord Jesus, have arrived at a place that I never intended. Give me back my vision, O’ Lord!
And Jesus will graciously say to us the same that He said to a blind beggar in Mark 10 two-thousand years ago: “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him on the way.” Yes, my friends, we are not called to re-appropriate what we have let go. We are called to confess the loss of it and receive the restoration from the hand of the One who originally gave it to us. Don’t fret! Your Lord is gracious, compassionate and lavish with mercies anew to blind beggars like we. Let your voice be heard before Him. Be as specific as possible because to be vague is to be dishonest. He awaits your cry.
this is excellent. i struggle with praying directly as i do not ever want to feel entitled or think that God is a heavenly vending machine doling out favors but it is important to remember to ask directly, humbly and with a God-gloried focus. when i take out the “me” and pray to my Father AS my Father, my prayer life is much more fulfilled.