(by Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
I recently heard a minister say that blind Bartimaeus wasn't on Jesus' schedule, but he got on it by his persistence and faith. First, Bartimaeus heard about Jesus and Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” So, he heard and then he acted on what he heard.
James 2:17 in the New International Version says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Bartimaeus began to cry out and they warned him to be quiet. (This sounds like religious people to me.) But Verse 48 says he cried out all the more. That’s the very moment that Bartimaeus got on Jesus’ schedule. Verse 49 says, "So
Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.”
This story makes me think of James 4:7 which says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” One translation says, “If you’ll get real with God, He’ll get real with you.”
British Evangelist Smith Wigglesworth, who was mightily used by God said, “I cannot understand how God can give to any of His children glory and virtue, but it nevertheless is true that He does…. There is something about believing in God, which makes God willing to pass over a million people just to anoint you. I believe God will always turn out to meet
you on a special line if you dare to believe Him.”
Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith.”
Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Let's get our faith on God’s schedule!!!