DESPERATE FOR JESUS

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting,
 
 “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
 
“Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder,
 
 “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
 
When Jesus heard him, He stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,
 
 “What do you want me to do for you?”
 
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
 
And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
 
Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God too.     (Luke 18:35-43 NLT)
 
In this passage we see a blind beggar, overcome with an unstoppable and relentless plea for mercy. Day after day he dragged his tired body and positioned it where he could best be seen and heard. Not able to work because of his blindness, he sat by the wayside begging.
 
This image tugs at my heart. A real person, loved by God, but often overlooked and dismissed by others. Can you imagine the low self-esteem heaped on top of being physically needy? He surely felt destitute of love of self and love from others.
 
And then . . . Jesus!
 
Surely he had heard about Him – heard about His miraculous healings. This man who had no hope of being rescued from his earthly plight, cries out to “Jesus, Son of David,” a title reserved for The Messiah. This destitute man believed. He had faith that Jesus was Who He said He was, and that He alone could heal him.
 
And Jesus did – what Jesus does. He heard the desperate plea from the shredded heart of this one bogged down in despair and hopelessness.
 
The blind beggar was just that; blind and begging. At the moment Jesus passed by he re-adjusted his focus from physical blindness – to being blind to everyone except Jesus. He closed his ears to others’ ridicule and negative comments – hearing only the compassionate words of Jesus.
 
Friend, you can do the very same thing right now. You can call out to Jesus, taking your shredded heart and despair to The One who knows and understands everything you are going through. And – He loves you through and through.
 
It may take a bit of “man-handling” your mind and emotions, but you can block out THE CIRCUMSTANCE that is weighing you down and re-set your focus on the only One who can really help you.
 
TRUTH: When you become desperate for Jesus, you will come to focus more on His love and grace and rely less on your own strength and ability.
 
APPLICATION: Write a personal prayer to Jesus in your journal or on a separate piece of paper to be shredded. Make it a heart to God’s Heart talk. Talk with Him about your inability to resolve what needs to be resolved. Talk with Him about your hurting heart and your need for His help in order to rise above the circumstance before you. Ask Him to do what only He can do.
 
SCRIPTURE: You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule. 
(Matthew 5:3 Message)
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, show me how to allow my crumpled heart to be settled in You. At every turn, it seems, there are people hurting and in desperate need of Your healing touch. I can’t heal them; You can. I can’t heal my ragged and weary heart; You can. Please, Lord Jesus, do what only You can do. In Your Loving Name I pray, Amen.