Pastor Pusch

Last week I delivered a message on the subject of Spiritual Blindness. I took my text from Mark 10:46-52, where Jesus gave sight to blind Bartimaeus (a familiar story to you no doubt.) Though a blind beggar, Bartimaeus was no dummy. He knew who Jesus was prior to His arrival. This is evident in the fact that when Bartimaeus called out to Him, he used a messianic titled, “Son of David“, that title caught Jesus attention. This is an amazing story of the faith of Bartimaeus and the grace of our Lord. 

For the sake of this blog post, I want to focus on the one particular interaction within this passage. I have always been intrigued by the question presented to Bartimaeus from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When Bartimaeus was brought to Jesus, Jesus asked a truly invaluable question, “What do you want me to do for you?” The question, though great, was simple and Bartimaeus responded in like manner, “I want to see.” The rest of the passage tells us that Bartimaeus, because of his faith, “immediately” received his sight and followed after Jesus. 

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?
What a question! What would be your answer? If the Lord Jesus Christ were standing right before you in the flesh and ask you the same question He asked of Bartimaeus, what would be your response (knowing that you would still have to live out the remainder of your life here on earth)? What would be your answer in view of eternity? 

I asked a close friend of mine what his response would be and he said that he would like to see all of his grandchildren serving the Lord. Obviously, that was a good answer. What made it a great answer is that this friend of mine lives every day with a debilitating disease and has struggled with it for several years. In conversations past, he would tell about days when MS gets the best of him and when it takes away from his daily activities. What makes this answer great is that had nothing to do with the temporal and all do to with the eternal. 

Perhaps your answer would be different. I once posed this question to a congregation of believers, and some of the responses were simply amazing. Some answered with health, others, money, and some with other “stuff”. The real questions involved are: What is sickness or disease in view of eternity? What is the value of money in view of eternity? What are houses and lands worth in view of eternity? Better yet, James wrote in his epistle, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). 

Personally, I hope my answer would be same as Bartimaeus, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Bartimaeus was a changed man that day. Mark records that Bartimaeus left his beggars clothes behind. He not only knew that Jesus could help him, he knew this encounter would change his life for all eternity. He would no longer need his beggar’s clothes. Bartimaeus did not just become a “sighted” beggar, he was changed. He left his former way, picked himself up, and he followed after Jesus. 

While I may have the ability to see physically, I want a vision that seeks to know Christ more and the ability to view this life in light of eternity and to see the world as He sees it.

Crazy Love: Overwhelemed by a Relentless God
Chapter 3: Crazy Love

The whole chapter comes down to this one question. The answer to this question will really help us determine what kind of a relationship we have with God.

Do we love/serve God because we feel that we should or because we really want to?

That’s it. Do you see the difference between someone who loves/serves God because they should (it’s the right thing to do)  and someone who loves/serves God because they want to? There is definitely a big difference between the two. One is a act surrounded by legalistic ritual and the other is a relationship driven by personal desire.

When we read our Bible, do we read because we feel that should or because we want to? When we pray, do we pray because we want to talk with God or because we feel that should because we’re supposed to? What about acts of service? Do we serve God because we love Him or do we serve in order to not annoy Him? One could say, “Well, I serve God out of obedience.” My question in response to that would be, why do you obey? Do we obey because we want to or because we should?

If we’re not careful, we will begin to treat our relationship with God as a set ritual and not as a personal relationship with the Savior. When that happens, we become more concerned with the “dos” and “don’ts” and the “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots.” It becomes more about rules and regulations than it does about the relationship. What good is ritual without the relationship?
___________________
Obviously we struggle. Sometimes it seems that our relationship with God is not what it should be and that’s ok… to an extent. It’s ok because we are mere humans, but it’s only ok when we have the determination and discipline to get back up and pursue after God. Humanity ought never be an excuse to intentionally slip up or to stay in some kind of  fallen position. The Apostle Paul is a prime example of a human failing successfully. In Romans 7, Paul writes about his own struggle with sin and how it keeps him from doing the things he should do. However, in Romans 8, he writes about the inseparable love of God that keeps us. Further yet, in Philippians 3, Paul writes to us about the importance to pursue God; to “press toward the goal.” He admits his own imperfection and that he’s missed the mark, yet he continues to strive; to pursue.

We are human; we will fall, but let’s not allow that to keep us from striving after God. We will never be perfect this side of heaven, yet we must keep going in this pursuit of holiness.

Lately I have been drawn back to the passage where Jesus describes our relationship to Him as branches. Remember the kid’s song, “His Banner Over Me is Love”. I remember being in children’s church singing the line that went “He is the vine and we are the branches” when we were supposed to stop and act like branches (or trees). It was a big deal! Who could be the silliest looking branch? It was a major competition, probably the reason we all loved singing that song. Kind of like, who can me the most obnoxious while singing “Father Abraham.” I am sure I won that award a time or two (sigh). I digress.

In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, it is he that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (esv)

Though there has been much discussion regarding this entire passage, verse 5 is a key focal point. If we can grasp this “life-philosophy”, then everything else won’t matter. We, as His children, must realize our place in Him. He is the vine and we are the branches. A branch without connection to the vine is dead. It does not produce any fruit and is good only to be gathered up and tossed in the fire. However, branches connected to the vine produce much fruit and will continue to grow as they remain connected.

Headline: Spiritual Growth Can Only Happen When Connected to the Vine.

It’s not about me. A branch cannot grow in and of itself. It needs the vine in order to survive and grow. We must stay connected to the vine. Jesus said, without Him, we can do nothing. He alone is our life and breath. It is the vine that gives us the nourishment and strength to grow. If is seems that you are going through a spiritual drought in life, connect with the vine, and allow Him to “reign” down and replenish your dry and thirsty soul. 

“If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, and bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:7-10 (esv)

Dear Lord, help me. Apart from you I can do nothing, yet sometimes, I make it all about me. I struggle with this and it’s so basic to our walk with You. Help me to live on purpose and to walk intentionally.

Stay Connected,
Pastor Pusch