I once was blind

As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Mark 10:46-52)

Just as Jesus gave physical sight to blind Bartimaeus, so He offers spiritual sight to you and I. Hear Him asking, “What do you want me to do for you?” The only appropriate answer is to cry out, “Lord, that I may receive my sight!” Notice that it was his faith that made him well. Faith in the Son of God. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9) 

“Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:13, 17)

The disease of sin

I’ve been a nurse now for, going on 21 years. I’ve seen a lot of diseases, and there are some pretty awful ones, but the worse disease that I know of is sin in the human heart, for it separates us from God! 

But we can give thanks to the Lord for the remedy He has provided in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, for ALL who believe! 

Have you put your trust in Him? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) 

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22) 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) 

Jesus answered and said to him, (Nicodemus) “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” -Jesus (Matthew 26:28)

“…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

The hem of His garment

Jesus, the wonderful One! More importantly than any physical healing though, ❤️‍🩹 is the spiritual healing He came to give! “By His stripes we are healed…,” (Isaiah 53:5) indeed, the forgiveness of our sins! 

“Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Reach out to Him by faith my friend! 

Then they came to Him, (Jesus) bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 

And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. 

So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”--He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 

Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

-Mark 2:3-12

What shall it profit?

If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,

Were my life worth living for a day?

Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort

In the things that soon must pass away?

If I gained the world, but had no Saviour,

Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife?

Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing

For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

Had I wealth and love in fullest measure,

And a name revered both far and near,

Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting,

Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer;

If I gained the world, but had no Saviour,

Who endured the cross and died for me,

Could then all the world afford a refuge,

Whither, in my anguish, I might flee?

O what emptiness!— without the Savior

’Mid the sins and sorrows here below!

And eternity, how dark without Him!

Only night and tears and endless woe!

What, tho' I might live without the Saviour,

When I come to die, how would it be?

O to face the valley’s gloom without Him!

And without Him all eternity!

O the joy of having all in Jesus!

What a balm the broken heart to heal!

Ne’er a sin so great, but He’ll forgive it,

Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!

If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,

Nothing else in all the world beside—

O then ev'rything is mine in Jesus;

For my needs and more He will provide.

-Anna Ölander (1904)

Redeemed

No greater joy my friend, than to be REDEEMED, bought back, ransomed, set free! 

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood 🩸 of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19) 

Blind Fanny Crosby had these beautiful words published in 1882,

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child and forever I am.

Refrain:

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed, redeemed,

His child and forever I am.

Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence (Psalm 16:11) With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long:

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty

The King in whose law I delight;

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,

And giveth me songs in the night.

I know there’s a crown that is waiting

In yonder bright mansion for me,

And soon, with the spirits made perfect,

At home with the Lord I shall be.