Imagine Jesus, the very one who you know has power and authority beyond this world to heal and perform miracles, was standing in front of you asking “What do you want me to do for you?”
What would you say?
What would I say?
Blind Bartimaeus had heard of Jesus and his miracles.
He was a beggar on the side of the road.
He believed in who Jesus was, and what he could do.
Then he heard Jesus was nearby.
This was his chance.
He spoke up.
The crowd told him to shut up.
He spoke louder.
Jesus called him near.
“What do you want me to do for you?”
This was his moment, and he went for it.
He didn’t ask for something small or temporary, he didn’t ask for food or for provision to not have to beg. He said I WANT TO SEE!
I wonder how often (for a million different reasons) we settle for small & superficial, instead of having the faith to ask for the BIG THING. We ask for a peaceful day, an improvement in our life – but Jesus wants to give us SIGHT. He wants to heal. He wants us to experience real hope, real freedom, real love, real and lasting peace. He wants to remove any hindrance keeping us from following him wherever he leads. But we only ask for crumbs and temporary comforts.
Maybe we’re afraid to get our hopes up, because we don’t want to be disappointed. Maybe you’ve prayed prayers that haven’t been answered in the way you expected. Maybe you’ll be disappointed again. But maybe you won’t. Is it worth the risk?
Is there a big thing you’ve been afraid to ask Jesus for?
The reality is, I fell into the “don’t get your hopes up” trap for a LONG time. But “don’t get your hopes up” keeps you on the curb. Not asking keeps you hearing about other people’s miracles and seeing Jesus work in other people’s lives, but not experiencing it for yourself. Hearing he can heal and even believing he can heal are very different than experiencing his healing for yourself.
Don’t settle for a piece of bread or some pocket change, when he wants to give you sight.
Let’s get off the curb and move into the miracle working arms of Jesus.