DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2021-03-12
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 20:31-34
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ³¹ Those in the crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But the blind men shouted even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, show us mercy, Lord!”
³² So Jesus stopped and had them brought to him. He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
³³ They said, “Lord, we want to see! Heal us!”
³⁴ Jesus was deeply moved with compassion^[k] toward them. So he touched their eyes, and instantly they could see! Jesus said to them, “Your faith has healed you.” And all the people praised God because of this miracle.^[l] And the two men became his followers from that day onward.

OBSERVATION: In preparation for a missions trip, other team members and myself were coached by pioneers of the same journey and we were warned not to feel sorry for the people of the poor town we would visit, as they are very happy in their own ‘skin’ and in their own condition. For they don’t see themselves as ‘poor’. It’s when we try to compare them to ourselves, that we feel sorry for them. Jesus didn’t assume the two blind man wanted only healing from Him. Hopefully we will learn from the Word what our approach should be when we see people who seem needy.

APPLICATION: If we are rich, then we may be quick to assume that those living in huts and wearing filthy rags with holes, are in need of financial handouts from us and lots of clothing. If a poor person dressed in rags came forward in an altar call at church, we may jump in to pray for their poverty and their financial needs. But what if in both of these examples, these individuals just want to hear about the love of Jesus that they overheard us talking about? Although Jesus knew full well what the need of these two beggars were, He wanted them to express their personal needs. Imagine after a touching sermon on the salvation of Jesus Christ, folk came forward to the altar. It would do them such an injustice to immediately go over to them and begin praying for their salvation. Show interest in them and do as Jesus did, ask them what you might do for them, or how you might pray for them. Imagine the satisfaction in their minds to say in earnest that they want to surrender their life to the lordship of Jesus Christ – the One who the preacher spoke of in such a loving, caring and understanding way. It’s like an alcoholic, help is of no value to them until they are ready to announce their condition and their request for help to overcome that dreaded disease. In our world of computers and devices, it behooves us to see that Jesus cared enough to stop the march and focus His attention on individuals who were receiving a lot of flack for being there. Beggars are still ignored by many today and looked down on by most. I pray that God may have spoken through the example of His Son to each reader today, and that our hearts may be stirred when we see someone in need. Perhaps they need Jesus, or a healing touch, or help with a financial burden, or just a hand up so that they could rest assured that someone still cares. Perhaps they just want to know that Jesus is still alive and well in us – giving reason to them for wanting to know Him personally. Jesus showed the two blind men that He cared enough to stop His world around Him to attend to their needs. Seek the face of Jesus my friend, and see what He wants you to do in order to truly see the needs of others, and then show mercy to them.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You know what we need, You know what lies ahead for us, yet You take the time to listen to what we feel our needs are. Thank You for caring for us and our anxious minds. Please touch our lives and help us to be just like You in caring about others. Help us to put aside our prejudices, our likes, our dislikes, our selfish desires, and our mechanical devices that tend to distract us from the needs that are right in front of us. This world is a hard and trying place in which to survive, may we become the light at the end of the tunnel for many that we come into contact with, giving reason for them to go on. Please continue to show mercy on us Lord, as we show mercy on others. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!