Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Down the long, dusty road on their way from Jericho to Jerusalem, almost two thousand years ago, trod Jesus with His motley band of twelve disciples. Because of the long journey, they were hot, sweaty, and weary. But because Jesus was at the height of His popularity, a great crowd of people were following him. They were jabbering endlessly. Asking questions. Seeking favors.

"Hey, what's all the noise?" blind Bartimaeus asked his friend as they sat by the highway begging. "It's Jesus," a passerby informed them.

"You mean Jesus of Nazareth, the fellow they claim can heal the sick and the blind?" Bartimaeus excitedly asked.

"That's the One," came the reply.

"I can't believe it," shouted Bartimaeus to his friend. "This just has to be my lucky day. I've got to get to Jesus. I know He can heal me."

"Hey, Bart, there He is," cried Bartimaeus's friend, "but how will you ever get His attention?"

Seeking to drown out the noise of the crowd, Bartimaeus yelled at the top of his voice, "Jesus, have mercy on me! O Lord, son of David, have mercy on me!"

People tried to silence Bartimaeus but he became all the more determined to get to Jesus. He couldn't see, but he sure could yell, and cried out all the louder. His voice rang out like a great clarion call, "Jesus, O Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, O Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And Jesus stood still.

And the crowd stood still

The winds and the waves couldn't stop the Savior. Neither could angry mobs. Crowds of people couldn't stop Him either. But the call of a lone, blind beggar did.

And Jesus with His great heart of compassion asked for Bartimaeus to be brought over to Him. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.

"Lord," Bartimaeus nervously replied, "please give me my sight."

And Jesus did. "Go your way," he said, "your faith has made you whole."

Immediately Bartimaeus could see and he followed Jesus along the way.¹

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you always hear the cry of every personâ€"rich or poor, young or oldâ€"who genuinely calls out to you for help. And thank you that you always hear and answer my prayers according to your will and not necessarily according to my wants. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Question: Have you ever "cried" out to Jesus for his gift of forgiveness and eternal life. If not, I encourage you to do that today. For help read "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at www.actsweb.org/christian.

1. See Mark 10:46-52.
Note: Adapted from I Hate Witnessing by Dick Innes, Chapter Nine.

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