Coffee With The Lord

Luke 18:35-43 has this wonderful story of a blind person (Mark 10 gives his name – Bartimaeus) near Jericho, who hears the commotion of a large crowd coming his way. He asks someone nearby, what Is going on and is told, “Jesus, of Nazareth, is passing by!” Bartimaeus has heard about Jesus! He performs miracles! He heals people! He thinks, “Jesus healed others… perhaps he would heal me!” He decides he’s going to find out and knows he’s got to try to get the attention of Jesus… He begins to yell out at the top of his voice… “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”

Now here’s my warped sense of humor sneaks through…

When I was a boy growing up, I watched my little brother Wes, act up in a store and begin to yell. Mom, in rather harsh voice, told him, “Be quiet! You’re making a scene!”

I mean, can you imagine a blind man, being told, “Be quiet! You’re making a scene!” But that is exactly what may have happened…

But Bartimaeus, kept it up… He didn’t stop “making a scene”! At any rate, Jesus heard him, stopped, and had someone bring Bartimaeus to him. Jesus asked him what he wanted and he said, “Lord, let me recover my sight!”

What Jesus said in response is telling (and the topic of my little reflection today)… Jesus told Bartimaeus, “Recover your sight! Your faith has made you well!” And Bartimaeus was immediately healed!

Perhaps you’ve been unwilling to give up about an impossible situation you’re facing – You keep praying! You keep asking people to pray with you, and for you, about it! If there is a healing service or an “anointing time” at your church you keep going forward! You’ve been known to even keep asking your pastor to pray with you about your situation… You’ve been “Making a bit of a scene” so to speak…

My advice? … Don’t give up! Jesus acknowledged that “behind the scene” Bartimeaus was making, was a significant expression of faith… He told him “Your faith has made you well!” If I were you I’d keep praying! I’d keep asking people to pray for me and with me! I’d even continue asking the pastor to pray with me about the situation. I’d keep “making a scene”… You just may hear the Savior say, “Your faith has made you well!”

Strong assurance… Great promises… Incredible encouragement… (and not much need for comment!) Back-to-back passages, yet! Someone needed to hear this today from God’s word!!!

From Psalm 124…

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side… if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

From Psalm 125…

“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!”

Materialism is a subtle (on second thought, perhaps a not so subtle) idolatry! Trouble is, you can be scrupulously religious and be as materialistic as Scrooge McDuck (you know the cartoon character… frolics in his piles of money and stuff).

There was a good look’n young leader in Israel that asked Jesus one day what he had to DO to inherit eternal life (you DO know that money can’t buy it, don’t you?). Jesus identified a few well known commandments for him to consider… (Remember, this guy was not only wealthy, he was very religious). His answer? “Got it covered, Jesus! Done all of those things since I was a kid!)

Did I say, this young man was VERY wealthy? At that point Jesus put his finger on his problem… the “subtle idolatry” … Jesus said, “One thing you still lack. Sell ALL that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven… and then come follow me.”
The young leader? The Bible says, “When he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich!”

Then Jesus followed up with an extremely important spiritual lesson: He said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” And then made a qualifying statement when those who heard his statement exclaimed in shock, “Then who can be saved?!” … Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God!” In other words, money and possessions don’t have to be the problem, but they often are! (from Luke 18:18-30)

My opinion? This is often a problem for American Christians… because of the “possessions orientedness” of our culture, it is very easy for American Christians to be materialistic (the “subtle idolatry”). Many American Christians wouldn’t think of bowing to a lifeless idol (that’s pagan!) but their lives are consumed by the accumulation of money and possessions.

I don’t know if I can say this kindly or not… It would be helpful for many of them to spend a month in the home of a devoted follower of Jesus in a third world country. I’ve been there… It’ll change you! They exhibit a deep love for Jesus, overflowing generosity, abounding joy, and nearly nothing in worldly possessions!

Oh Lord, I want to learn the lesson from the story of “the rich young ruler!” I’m determined, with God’s help to avoid, “the subtle idolatry!” Trying to remember Jesus’s words… “A person’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions!” (Luke 12:15)