Posted on March 20, 2022 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
All Access: Power for Insignificant People
By Shelly Huston
Bartimaeus sat by the road begging…
He was completely dependent on the compassion of others. Counting on those around him to recognize what he was going through, and then take practical action to help.
Have you ever been in a place where you were desperate for an intervention? Maybe you’d already tapped into your savings. You’d already reached out to your caring friends and family for help in a certain area. You’d already done everything you could possibly do to resolve the dilemma, yet you were at a standstill. You needed a breakthrough, a miracle, a divine intervention. Have you ever been at a point where you had to cry out to another to see your need and intervene?
I know I have; it’s a humbling, uncomfortable place to be. I love being able to swoop in and save the day for others, but when I am the one who needs to be rescued, I really don’t like it. Maybe, like me, you’d rather be the hero than need one. These places of desperation are pivotal. I don’t know what Bartimaeus had to go through before he made it to the road; I don’t imagine it was easy. Then, he didn’t just sit there and cry in his distress, he cried out (loudly) in desperation to the one and only being who could heal, save, and deliver him from what appeared to be a hopeless situation.
Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He didn’t delay, beat around the bush, or ask for three wishes. He spoke into existence that which was absent. Bartimaeus asked for his sight to be restored. He knew Jesus by name, by reputation, by deed. Through the eyes of faith, he was confident that he could count on the compassion of Jesus to recognize his need, intervene, and heal.
Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Through acting on his faith, God released power to heal an ordinary man sitting by the road. Today, you too may be faced with a dilemma. Do you sit by the road and keep quiet, or do you raise a bit of a ruckus, let faith rise within you, and allow yourself to become a part of a miracle? We know what Bartimaeus did. The real question is, what are you going to do?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: No longer does a Priest have to prepare the sacrifices on our behalf, because Jesus, became the sacrifice for you and I…his people. Is there something that you think you alone are responsible for? A burden so great that no one else could possibly bear? Something that you’ve said, done or even thought that couldn’t be forgiven? There’s a hymn that springs to mind, “I had a debt I could not pay, He paid the debt He did not owe. I needed someone to wash my sins away.” Could it be time to lay down the load you are carrying with Jesus, and allow him to bear it, and finally receive the relief and forgiveness Jesus is longing to provide you?
Let’s pray for one another, and for those whose paths we cross, that we might be able to guide each other to the hope and the power that Jesus came to give every human being. Let’s pray that we will be people who see what Jesus sees around us, and will step up and use our influence and power to serve and help others. Amen…
{bible reading plan: book of hebrews}
For the next few months, we invite you to engage the Bible differently along with us. Each week we will be reading a book from Hebrews 4 times, in 4 ways, as directed below. Instead of daily verses, you are free to engage in the practice outlined below as a "choose your adventure". You might do this all in one sitting, or choose to do an exercise a day. We’d love to hear your feedback, just drop an email to Lisa Zulke.
For an overview of Hebrews, watch this 8 minute video from our friends at The Bible Project.
Read the passage slowly, sitting with it and allowing it to frame and fill your mind. Listen for a single word or phrase that catches your attention. Something you want to ponder further or hold on to.
What word or phrase caught your attention?
"I heard _____________________________________________"
The second time you read the passage, reflect on what you have heard. Use your imagination to put yourself in the story, in the context of this letter to the Hebrew people. What do you THINK or NOTICE? What do you SEE? What do you FEEL? What do you LEARN about Jesus? What QUESTIONS are you pondering about Jesus in this reading? Engaging our senses invites curiosity about what we have read.
"I saw, I felt, I noticed _____________________________________"
The third time you read the passage, listen specifically for a personal invitation. What am I being invited to consider? What am I being invited to do or try? Sit quietly and listen. Pray, asking God for insight into what he wants to share with you.
"I believe Jesus is inviting me to ___________________________"
After the fourth reading, respond to Hebrews 8. Read it again, and noodle on what you’ve experienced and taken note of so far. What are you sensing or hearing from Jesus or about Jesus? Pray, inviting Jesus to nudge you in a decision: what am I going to do with what I’ve heard? How will I act on it? How might I integrate it into my daily life?
"I will __________________________________________________"
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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