Words for the soul
Brad Barrett blogArchive for April, 2011
Desperate Prayer
Luke 18:36-43 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
I love this story which is sad, humorous and exemplary at the same time. Sad in that this man was blind and broke, resorting to begging for money. What a humiliating and frightening situation, not knowing if you would even survive another day. The story is humorous in that he is shouting to Jesus to heal him, but many people tell him to shut up. So how does he respond to their rebukes? Does he listen to them? Does he get embarrassed that he is making a scene? No, he just shouts all the more and all the louder! (This reminds me of sibling rivalry, where one sibling will tell the other, “Stop it,” and instead of stopping they do it even more.) Then the story is exemplary in that Bartimaeus persists in prayer to Jesus until he gets what he wants and needs.
Am I that persistent? Do I want something that badly that I will keep calling out to Jesus until I get it? Do I believe so strongly that Jesus is both willing and able to help me that I won’t give up until He answers?
Fundamentally, prayer (which this story is essentially about) requires two basic attitudes in us: 1. We must want something badly like Bartimaeus, and 2. We must believe that Jesus has the power and the willingness to help us.
I must examine my own prayer life. Certainly times when I have been most desperate in prayer is when my need has been the greatest. So do not despise trials that make me desperate for Jesus’ help. Rather, welcome the trials as friends. And the times when I have been most persistent in prayer is when I am convinced Jesus loves me, cares deeply for me, and has the power to give what I ask for: “What do you want me to do for you?” he says. What a beautiful question.
Conversely, when my prayer life lacks, I may be able to simply examine these two attitudes and conclude either I don’t realize that I have much need or I don’t believe Jesus cares and has the power to help.
Be like Bartimaeus in prayer! Be hungry and desperate for help. Let nothing or no one hinder me in prayer. Let no obstacle in my life loom so large that I think Jesus cannot or will not conquer it. Believe Jesus will hear; believe and do not doubt.
Perhaps we should establish a prayer group called the Bartimaeus team who, when their prayers seem not to be heard, shout all the louder and longer until He answers!
An Unpopular Bible Verse
“…any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33 ESV)
Pastor and author William MacDonald says this about Jesus’ words:
“Verse 33 is probably one of the most unpopular verses in the entire Bible. It explicitly states that “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” There is no evading the meaning of the words. They do not say that a person must be willing to forsake all. Rather they say that he must forsake all. We must give the Lord Jesus credit for knowing what He was saying. He realized that the job would never be done in any other way. He wants men and women who esteem Him more than everything else in the world.”
Is there anything you love more than Jesus? Is there anything in this life you cling to more tightly than you do to Jesus? Cast it off today.
Be Strong in Leadership
Ever feel weak-kneed when it comes to leadership? Afraid, timid? Wonder if it makes any difference?
As a counter to that very temptation, the Lord charged Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.“ (Josh 1:6)
Recently I was hit with a wave of timidity, wondering, “Can I really make any difference in people’s lives? Should I just quit? Why is leadership so frightening, at times?” Obviously this was not an invigorating “wave” to be hit with. But then I read Joshua yesterday and thought of the application: today in the NT era, all disciples of Jesus are in one way or another called to help others grab hold of the inheritance in heaven that Jesus offers: first, eternal life; then, all the blessings and rewards that he promises. And someone has to lead them to find all this and to go deeper with God. So the Lord charges me as a disciple, husband, dad, friend and pastor to be strong and courageous; to go lead others to grab hold of the inheritance Jesus promises. Like Joshua, I can make a difference. And I must make a difference. So by his power, I will stop being lazy or faint-hearted or self-centered or…. (fill in your own favorite sin)… and lead the people.
Be strong and courageous. You…you… will lead these people to inherit the land.
