For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29: 11, NKJV
Blessed Lord, we thank You that there is a future planned for those who trust in You, a good future. Amen
If we could only remember this promise when things are not working out for us, we would have peace. When we have prayed, and prayed, and done everything in our power, and it seems as if nothing is happening, if we could only remember that we are in God’s plan, what a difference it would make! When everyone tells us that we should just forget about our dream, yet we are convinced that this is what God called us to do; if, at these times we can remember that we are fulfilling God’s plans for our lives, we will have the strength not to give up!
I am not sure if blind Bartimaeus knew what plans God had for his life, but the way he refused to be silent when others tried to quiet him (Mark 10: 48), is a very good example of the tenacity with which we should press forward, when we desire to obtain something from the Lord. This is especially true if we are convinced that what we desire for our lives, is what God has planned for us.
I wonder if Bartimaeus had heard that Jesus had miraculously fed more than four thousand people, and had seven baskets full of leftovers, with only seven loaves of bread and a few fishes (8: 6-9). It is quite possible that he had received word about the blind man Jesus had healed in Bethsaida (8: 22-25). It is the only time we read in Scripture that Jesus intervened twice before he obtained the desired results, but the man left Jesus’ presence completely healed!
Chances are, he had also overheard others talking about the young boy who Jesus had freed from the evil spirit when His disciples were unable to do so (9: 17-26). Maybe the shocking news that Jesus had taken little children (children were at the very bottom of the social ladder in Jesus’ day) on His knees and blessed them had come to his attention (10: 13-16). All of these extraordinary, “testimonies” gave him a pretty good idea that Jesus’ plan for humanity was not the one they were living. To the contrary, His plan for us was, one “of peace and not of evil” to give us “a future and a hope.” Bartimaeus bought into the plan and decided to prove it for himself. As Jesus was passing by he cried out, ” ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ ” While You are fulfilling Your plan in the life of others, “do not pass me by.”
Could it be that some of us have not yet seen God’s plan for our lives fulfilled, because it seems “too good to be true and therefore we are not claiming it?” Jesus says “prove Me” (Malachi 3: 10)! Let us prove Him today.
Tomorrow we will continue with this thought. Until then, God bless you!