Passage Read: Luke 17-18
Meditation Verses: 18:39-40
Thought
When Bartimaeus began calling out for Jesus' help, the people in the crowd tried to shut him up. Followers of Jesus! They weren't even thinking they could see another miracle. They were crowding around Jesus, soaking up His presence. Perhaps they thought better of themselves because they were in the crowd with Him. They were happy to tell who they were following, as long as no blind beggar interrupted the procession. They loved being part of this crowd, but they didn't understand the heart of the One they fawned over. So Jesus stops. He doesn't go to Bartimaeus. Instead, He calls for him to be brought to Him. But who was to bring him? Those nearest the beggar, who had just been shushing him! Those who wanted nothing to do with him now had to serve him by leading him to Jesus! There's a subtle rebuke. No one is too low or insignificant to Jesus who wants His help, and He expects His people to think likewise. Then the naysayers saw the miracle and they gave praise to God.
Application
No one is too dirty or too poor or too helpless or too useless to God if they want mercy from Him. I need to be careful not to look down on anyone or to think I should only spend my time on the well-off, well-educated or well-put-together. It is the rich who are next to impossible to bring to Christ; the Gospel was sent to the poor. It is the poor and needy who are more responsive to the Gospel. It is the rich and prideful who have a hard time seeing their need for Jesus. The rich might give big gifts to support the ministry, but it costs them little so they see themselves as benefactors rather than beggars, puffed up all the more in their pride. The poor give sacrificially, and consider themselves undeservedly blessed, deepened in their humility. The poor in their humility are far more precious to God than the rich, who have trouble letting go of their pride. I need to honor the poor who want to know Jesus as much or more than those who think they have much and may only be seeking to add one more "righteous deed" to their collection, to inflate their own ego rather than to know and serve God in true, humble devotion. I need to be that beggar, overflowing with gratitude that God would even consider me, let alone invite me to His side.