Where are they now?

"The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight ... he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." - Mark 10:51-52

Many people, like blind Bartimaeus, were touched by Christ and followed - but where were they at the crucifixion?

Where are we when following Christ is not so popular? More than just being receivers, we need to be disciples?

- fritz

What to ask for?

"[B]lind Bartimaeus ... sat by the highway side begging ... he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me ... 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." - Mark 10:46b-47,51a

Jesus made no assumption about what blind Bartimaeus wanted.

Why? Maybe Jesus saw other needs just as grievous as his blindness; we can only speculate. Fact is, in spite of his obvious need to us, Jesus waited until he identified what he wanted. Had Bartimaeus not asked he may not have received.

We, too, have what some would consider obvious needs, but like Bartimaeus, we need to ask.

- fritz

The Humblest Man

[T]here came one running, and kneeled to [Jesus], and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. - Mark 10:17b-18

The story is told of the town wanting to honor its humblest citizen.

They found just the man and presented him with a trophy, but they had to immediately take it away from him because he accepted it.

Jesus was not even guilty of the sin of self-righteousness.

- fritz

Faith when you get and when you don't

Gideon, Barak, Samson ... who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised...Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured ... Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were ... put to death by the sword...destitute, persecuted and mistreated ... These were all commended for their faith" - Hebrews 11:32-39 edited

Faith isn't just shown in the receiving of miracles, but in staying true and faithful even when you don't!

- fritz

The Good Old Days

Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. - Ecclesiastes 7:10

Remembering the "Good Old Days" is a waste of time. You can NEVER go back to what was - but you can go forward to something better if you keep focus.

[T]his one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore ... be thus minded - Philippians 3:13b-16a

There is better yet to come!

- fritz

Great deal - if you can do it!

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; - Deuteronomy 7:9

Some are up for the challenge - Keep the commandments, love God, and get God's blessing; and how some really try!

But law condemns for incomplete adherence. Have you ever wanted what someone else had? You haven't kept the 10^Th commandment, you failed the challenge! Have you ever worked on Saturday? You haven't kept the 4^Th commandment, you failed the challenge! Actually, are there any of God's commands you have done from your heart without some failure? Me neither!

There's no balance scale to see if more good is done than bad - laws, even our own, don't work that way. Example: Stop at five (5) traffic lights but run one (1); can you still get a ticket?

James puts it this way:

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker." - James 2:10-11

We can't even keep his commandments one generation, much less to a thousand!

So we have blown that deal! Our only hope is to find an alternative; fortunately there is one!¹

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. - 1st Timothy 1:15

- fritz

^{1 - Post from 09/23/2010 Alternate Righteousness}

Prosperity Gospel

"Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." - Psalm 35:24

There is Biblical justification for God's people being prosperous!

But it's like the kid's birthday card says, "It's your birthday, you can to crank up the music volume as loud as you want ... but I get to pick the music."

We can be prosperous ... but God gets to define what "prosperous" is.

Hey! With God in charge it's always good!

- fritz