“Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:46-48 NLT
Lord God,
In the words of the hymnist, “Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear”. I have heard many good sermons on this passage Lord. About throwing off his coat, the symbol of his past and coming to Jesus and receiving his sight and a new life. Wonderful.
But today I just want to thank You that You have made everything so simple. We have all had our Bartimaeus moments, when we have been stuck in a situation, blind to know what to do for the best. And all we had to do is call on You for help. Our best prayer – Jesus help me.
This was not a road as we know it but regularly trodden route on a main way out of Jericho. Maybe dusty and sometimes deserted. Bartimaeus was a nobody. Dismissed as a noisy irrelevance and told to be quiet.
Sometimes we wonder how You have time to hear every cry of every person in the world and answer their prayers. And we are nobody and wonder how You can be bothered with us. Then this wonderful little story, a life changing incident, shows us that You hear, You stop and listen to us each personally. You want to You meet our need.
Thank You for the stories of Jesus so simple and yet so profound.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God,
For our family, extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Sunday school teachers.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Royal family.
New Prime Minister and government.
For Gaza, Middle East, solutions for peace for all. Break down hatred.
For Ukraine. Send a miracle, an end to war.
For Myanmar, the church.
For the USA political situation.
1 day to go. For Paris, the athletes, coaches and Olympian teams. Those arriving to watch.
For farmers harvesting grain and making hay.
For beggars in countries with no social services. For our homeless.
For grandparents, guardians, carers, play schemes caring for children in school holidays.
For us to remember to ask You for help when we need it even in the little things. For the answers to prayer which we can’t remember asking! To accept help from friends too.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 25th July 2024
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for loves sake became poor
And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross