Then they came to Jericho. And as He [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you." Mark 10:46-49 The number one behavior of the desperate is to seek Jesus.

Bartimaeus was desperate to see God work on his behalf. He wouldn't let anything keep him from calling out to Jesus, because he knew he needed help. When Jesus called for him, Bartimaeus threw off his cloak—the thing that represented his blindness and his status as a beggar—and even though he was still blind, "he jumped up and came to Jesus" (Mark 10:50). And Jesus told him: "Go; your faith has made you well" (Mark 10:52).

Tax Collector Zaccheus was so desperate to see Jesus that he climbed a tree. Jesus found him, and the encounter changed Zaccheus forever (Luke 19:1-10). If you seek Jesus you will find Him (Luke 11:9-10; Deuteronomy 4:29). The woman with the hemorrhage was so desperate to get to Jesus that she pressed through crowds to reach Him (Matthew 9:20-22). And she was healed.

Sometimes there are obstacles and challenges. You may be strongly tempted to back off the fight, but God has called you to conquer whatever challenge you are facing. If you feel numb, repent of inertia and trust God to make you hungry again. He is faithful. As you seek God, watch Him turn your despairing situation into one of breakthrough! Jesus is still passing by, still looking for people who are desperate for Him.

Press On!
Pastor Jeff

As you seek God, watch Him turn your despairing situation into one of breakthrough.


© 2008 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.