Monday, December 22, 2014
TEXT: LUKE 18:31-43
Key Verse: “And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:38).
In her song, “Mercy Said No,” Cece Winans captured the determination of a desperate heart: “Mercy said no, I’m not going to let you go; I’m not going to let you slip away; you don’t have to be afraid; Mercy said no; sin will never take control; life and death stood face to face; darkness tried to steal my heart away; thank you Jesus, mercy said no.” Indeed, the mercy of God has always availed for those who believe in the power of God to do all things.
The blind man in our text knew he had to do everything to receive his sight at that point in time. It was the most desperate moment in his life. He was sure that if God’s mercy joined his faith, he would receive his needed miracle. This was why he refused to be silenced by the crowd that shouted at him to keep his peace and to stop disturbing the Master. He increased the tempo of his cry. His unusual cry attracted Jesus’ attention. And then HE STOOD and commanded Bartimaeus to be brought to him.
The passage today has great lessons for us. One, the blind man was at the right place at the right time. Two, strong determination can draw the attention of God to our lives. Three, when our faith meets God’s mercy, we receive the best from Him. Four, we must always endeavour to be present in places where God does His work.
The passage today tells us that we need to be desperate to receive from God. Many of those who received healing or other blessings were desperate about their need. The woman with the issue of blood waded through the crowd to enable her touch the hem of Jesus’ garment; the friends of the paralytic man had to tear the roof to lower the man into the room where Jesus was; the Centurion’s servant got healed because of much pestering of Jesus by his boss. And it took Zacchaeus climbing a tree to receive pardon and become a friend of Jesus.
What is your need this hour? You must persevere in prayer and cry desperately for your miracle. And the Lord will ‘stand still’ for you.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Desperate prayers invariably attract heavenly intervention.
Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/
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