Faith Footsteps: Ninth Episode
As we journey through the gospels we arrive at the story of a blind beggar Bartimaeus (Matt. 20; Mark 10; Luke 18) whose hope was that the Messiah, the Son of David, would have mercy on him. He was commanded to quiet down but persisted until Jesus called to Him and asked a simple question: “What do you want Me to do for you?” The voice of God called him to ‘come’ and uncomplicated faith responded to the question, “I want to see.” That’s the lower story. Do you see the upper story? Hope, persistence, and faith responded to God’s voice, His calling, and action followed: he threw off his cloak, sprang up, and ‘came to Jesus’.
The parable of a widow (Luke 18:1-8) who relentlessly came to an unrighteous judge also displays persistent prayer in faith so beautifully. If an unrighteous judge gave her what she wanted due to her relentless ‘bothering’ how much more will a loving Father give His children who boldly pray?
“I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8
Jesus asked another blind man after healing him (John 9):
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” … “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Him.
I’m asking you, what do you want God to do for you today? He’s calling you to come to Him, be persistent, and declare your faith … even if it’s only mustard-seed size.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!” Luke 17:5-6
Mark recounts a similar story of Jesus after He cursed another tree (11:11-25) and it withered away to its roots; He connected a curse with prayer, belief, and forgiveness. Tiny faith can spiritually cause a tree to be uprooted and move out of the way, similarly, that same tiny faith can curse (declare a penalty) a tree from the root for not having any fruit. In other words, we speak to obstacles the enemy constructs against us through prayer, faith, and forgiveness.
What needs to be uprooted in your life that keeps your faith from growing? What root in your heart needs to be cursed, declared a penalty, so it will die?
Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Hebrews 12:15b
What’s keeping you from spiritual growth and maturity? Take another step in your faith and forgive anyone God’s brings to mind; the fruit of the Spirit will grow and you’ll see results.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:39 ESV
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