46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. (Mark 10:46-52)
Prior to this time, Bartimaeus had no option but to be a beggar. There was no cure for his blindness. But some people had told him about how a man named Jesus had healed blindness. Now that man was passing right by him, and Bartimaeus cried out to Him, calling Him the son of David. That showed that he recognized Jesus as his Messiah. This was his day. God in the flesh was passing by. Nothing else mattered!
Bartimaeus could have made a different choice. With all the people going by, he could have made more money begging that day than he would have made in months. This was the break of a lifetime. Beggars think that way. But Bartimaeus turned from being a beggar to being a believer that day. He
wasn’t thinking about an opportunity to succeed in his beggarly existence; he was thinking of a brand- new life, a life free from begging, an independent life where he could see to make it on his own and help others.
What choices are you making? Are you so occupied with continuing the status quo that you’re missing the opportunity Jesus is giving you to change your life? Are you so busy making a living that you don’t take time to study or pray? Are you unable to go to church because of the demands of your business? That would be like Bartimaeus not calling out for his healing because of his great opportunity to beg.
Don’t let the demands of everyday life cause you to miss Jesus as He passes by you today. Throw off all your beggarly clothes and act like a believer.
