Read Mark 10:32-52 and Luke 19:1-10.
Mark 10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
A man who couldn’t see, men who didn’t see, and a man who wanted to see. Our Lord Jesus asked a strange question of Bartimaeus: What do you want Me to do for you? Christ surely must have known that the man was blind and wanted to be helped. Hadn’t Bartimaeus been shouting, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me? (10:47) Why should Jesus ask him again? Because He wanted Bartimaeus to realize his utter desperation.
The same is true of us. God waits for us to decide down deep in our hearts two things: (1) what it is that we absolutely must have from Him and, (2) to realize that we are absolutely helpless without Him. Many a person, myself included, often prays good prayers but without the desperation born of the realization that only God can intervene. It is that desperate faith that verbalizes our helplessness to God. Someone has pointed out that it is not our need that appeals to God, nor indeed our request, and certainly not our worthiness (for we have none), but our helplessness.
Zaccheus only wanted to be a spectator, but God made him a participator. This notorious tax collector climbed a tree to see the Lord Jesus, but Jesus immediately engaged him in conversation and in activity that changed his life. It isn’t what you see about the Lord that counts, but rather your personal involvement with the life-changing Jesus that makes all the difference. Zaccheus found this out and so, my friend, will you.
This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages at www.walkwiththeking.org. Used with written permission.
