” ‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:52)
We’re looking one more time at the last verse in Mark 10. We saw yesterday that Jesus’ words to Bartimaeus are a clue about what God wants from us: to trust Him with everything we’ve got.
Did you notice Bartimaeus’s response to being healed, to having his prayer answered? He followed Jesus. Jesus did not tell the beggar to follow Him. He didn’t ask for any kind of lifetime commitment. He didn’t lay a guilt trip on the man: “After all I’ve given you, shouldn’t you really give your life to me?”
No, Bartimaeus just naturally followed his Lord after receiving such a huge gift from Him. Why wouldn’t he? What better way could he use the independence that came with his new sight? What more natural thing could there be for any of us beggars than to follow Jesus along the road after He freed us from slavery to sin and a future in hell?
Think: Does that last sentence above make you feel guilty? When you think about the new life you have in Christ — and all of the good gifts He has given to you — does following Him feel like the natural thing to do? Or does it feel like an obligation? Why do you think we struggle with that?
Pray: Ask God to help you to want to follow Him naturally and gratefully as someone who has been given the greatest gift of all.
Do: Aside from the gift of your salvation in Christ, make a quick list of 5 of the biggest gifts you’ve ever been given by God.