Good morning, friends,

This week I’ve been reading through the Gospel of Mark in my quiet times, and enjoyed reading in ch.10 about blind Bartimaeus. He is a beggar by the roadside, and hears Jesus is approaching. Throwing social protocol out the window, he starts crying out loudly, “Jesus, have mercy on me!” Although many tried to quiet him, he yelled all the more. Persistence, as well as wisdom at knowing who has the power to heal. He recognizes he does not deserve to be healed, so he calls upon the mercy of the Lord.

What struck me as I spent time thinking through this is that Jesus, the all-knowing God, then asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Huh? The guy is blind. Of course he wants his sight. Yet Jesus asks the question. Why? I believe Jesus communicates an important lesson in this way. It can be humbling for us to vocalize a request regarding our greatest point of weakness. Yet it is so crucial that at that very point, where we have deepest need, we come and speak directly to God, verbally requesting His help. It is healthy for our pride to speak our need, and healthy for our relationship with God for us to lay it before Him.

What is your point of deepest need? Sometimes these are covered with other things that disguise the deepest need. “I need more money, or a better job.” Really? What is behind that? Maybe what we need is more faith in God to provide, or an attitude of contentment at what he’s already given us. Let’s spend time thinking about what we most need, and then speak it out to our heavenly Father. Yes, He already knows it, but it is so good for us to ask.

Pressing on by His grace, Eric