Reasonable Faith
Mark 10:46-52 NKJV
[46] Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. [47] 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!” [48] Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [49] So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” [50] And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. [51] So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” [52] Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
As followers of Jesus Christ we are always learning how to believe more. Trusting Him more in things we can’t control. more.
We are always learning how to follow closer. Hearing Him as the Shepherd and trying to be one of His beloved sheep.
We speak a lot about faith.
That is the foundation of what we believe.
This new year ask the Lord to give you more faith!
Not just any kind of faith.
Not just blind faith, ask the Lord to give you reasonable faith!
Faith in Jesus transforms how you think. It changes you from the inside.
Faith impacts how you feel. Faith alters what you do, even how you do it.
Faith Will change why you do it or don’t. Faith changes what you believe. God uses faith to direct your life and rearrange your priorities. Faith is one of the key subjects in the Bible. God wants you to understand faith and what believing in Him is truly all about.
We have blind faith.
We believe and follow a King we have never seen.
We believe in a Kingdom we have not been to yet.
But there is something about blind faith.
Blind faith is believing without having a true understanding.
As we continue to have more faith in Christ, believe more, Trust more that blind faith changes.
It changes to what we call reasonable faith.
Jesus doesn’t perform miracles to just heal the physical body.
He performs miracles to not just heal the body but to save the soul.
It’s so those that were healed can trust Him with both body and spirit.
It’s to confirm in our hearts and minds that if He has the power and ability to restore what is physically broken He also has the power and ability to restore what is Spiritually lost.
Life changes when Christ shows up.
And as Jesus and His Disciples leave Jericho and start to march towards Jerusalem for His death. This beggar encounters The Messiah.
There is a realness of Jesus. Encounters with Him are undeniable.
He comes into your life at the exact right moment.
Moments of strife and discouragement.
Moments of hurt and sorrow.
Moments of loss.
Moments of need.
The amazing thing is He is never late!
The Lord always shows up at the exact moment we need Him the most.
He is there even if we don’t think we need His strength, His Love, His mercy or His Amazing Grace!
But sometimes there is still blindness.
The Pharisees were completely blinded to the fact that the Messiah that had been written about was the very One they are fighting. Complete denial of who this Jesus of Nazareth is.
Even His Apostles, the closest twelve,had blurred vision of who Jesus is. They still had faithlessness about them.
Seeing Him as King but not understanding His Kingship yet.
Bartimaeus even though he was physically blind had Spiritual eyes to see.
Through that Spiritual sight comes a deep faith!
There was a faith that made blind Bartimaeus blind no more.
He had a pressing faith. A faith of urgency.
A desperate faith.
There was an eagerness to trust Jesus. There was no embarrassment. He didn’t wait.
He didn’t allow the crowds or his circumstances, his situation or anything get in his way!
He immediately jumps up to meet Jesus.
He was not going to let Jesus pass him by.
Nothing was going to stop him from crying out to Christ!
Isaiah 55:6 NKJV
[6] Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Jesus the Messiah is near. Salvation is near. The time is now.
This was the opportunity of not just a lifetime but an opportunity for eternity!
There on the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing through Jericho.
Bartimaeus didn’t wait! He couldn’t.
Desperately needing a touch from the Son of God!
Jesus to this day is still passing by the heart that needs to be healed. The sin to be forgiven. The Saving Grace of God is still searching.
The love of Christ is still wanting.
The mercy of God is still available!
He is near to any and all that are willing to be brave enough and humble enough to cry out to Him!
How desperate are you?
How desperate are your prayers?
This is an opportunity that no man or no woman can miss.
As we march alongside Christ this day and this new year, let us purpose ourselves to see Jesus first.
Purpose yourself to take the blind faith you have been living and allow the Lord to make it a reasonable faith!
Reasonable faith stands firm on what Christ has accomplished.
Reasonable faith proclaims the faithfulness of God.
Reasonable faith gives the heart confidence in what the Glory of Heavens Throne can do!
Pastor Ed
