Grandma was Right - Don't Follow the Crowd

S - “And they came to Jericho. 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. (Mark 10:46-52 ESV)"

O - I wonder when was the last time Bartimaeus had someone, let alone the Messiah, call FOR him? How many times had someone ignored him or cursed him or yelled at him? Had anyone, since he lost his sight, ever asked him what he wanted? The crowd saw him as an uncomfortable annoyance but Jesus saw him an open-ended opportunity. The crowd heard him as a discordant disturbance but Jesus heard him as a desperate human being. 

A - I am very glad for the way Jesus sees and hears. He wants me to accept transformation in my thinking (literally to repent - the term in the Scriptures means to change your thinking) so that I would be enabled to see and hear like he does. This transformation will also inspire me to give the way I have received … unto the life that is really life. I repent:)!

P - Lord who is always unintimidated,

Your open ended question to Bartimaeus is for me, for us. We can ask anything and nothing is impossible to the one who believes. Lord, I want to be transformed! I want to think, act, live and speak like you. I want your irrepressible life coming into me and out of me. I am asking for help not self-help. I want to see and hear like you. I am asking this in Jesus' name.

Steve