We invite you to take a peek inside our weekly Light for the Way devotional series provided for staff.
By Campus Pastor Keith Lomen, Orchard Path and Valley Ridge
“As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means ‘son of Timaeus’), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” — Mark 10:46-47, NIV
Have you ever wanted God to "come to His senses"? In other words, you’ve been crying out to God for mercy, for help, for comfort, for provision — and it seems as if He doesn’t hear us? Or even see us?
You’re thinking to yourself, "C’mon God, are you listening? Don’t you see me, Lord?" But nothing is happening. Nothing is changing. If God is doing anything, we surely can't see it. And it’s hard to keep believing in a God who isn’t there for us, isn’t it?
That’s why this story of Jesus healing the blind man, Bartimaeus is so simple and refreshing. Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is in the area. He has heard that Jesus can heal, and so he cries out to Him — for mercy! People start "shushing" him, but he is fearless and only cries out all the louder.
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Hearing him, Jesus calls for Bartimaeus to come to him. People around him tell Bartimaeus, "Hey man, this is your lucky day! Jesus is calling for you! Take heart!"
Bartimaeus appears before Jesus, and Jesus asks him the simplest, most direct question: "What do you want me to do for you?" Duh! Bartimaeus immediately pipes up, "Rabbi, I want to see."
The story ends when Jesus affirms him, and says, "Your faith has made you well." Jesus heals the blind man on the spot, and Bartimaeus joins the crowd and follows Jesus.
This brief encounter with Jesus changed the life of Bartimaeus, who was blind, into Bartimaeus, who now can see. It reminds us that's it’s perfectly OK to cry out to God for mercy, or for anything else in our lives that we need.
The good news here for us is that God does hear our cries for help, and that He is well able to meet any need we might have. You see, God’s ears and eyes work just fine, even if we don’t think He’s listening or that He sees us. Take heart!
Pastor Keith Lomen serves PHS as Campus Pastor at Orchard Path in Apple Valley and Valley Ridge in Burnsville, MN. He is happily married for 37 years to his beautiful wife Nan. They have two sons and two grandsons, and are actively enjoying (and fixing up!) their new home in White Bear Lake. Pastor Keith loves sports and follows them all, and he still plays as many of them as he can.
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian Ministry.
Find more in the Light for the Way series:
Loving what you do and enduring with confidence
Hearing God's voice in springtime
Witnessing God's faithfulness and the early signs of a 'new normal'
Introducing Light for the Way, a new devotional series
In addition to Light for the Way, you can find reflections, devotions, music and other resources on the Pastoral Care website.