Luke 18:31- 43

Be still: We come as empty vessels this day looking to be filled afresh with the anointing of your Spirit. Amen

Read: Luke 18:31- 43

Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.' (v42)

Encounter: I am a morning person, rather than a night owl. Setting an early alarm, having a gorgeous morning coffee and then, at the end of the day, being in bed by 9pm is the dream. But it means I'm often unbearable to those around me in the morning. I’ll be bursting with energy, blasting music in the kitchen and yelling across the corridors while everyone else is wishing I'd calm down and be quiet!

In today's passage a blind man, hearing of Jesus’ arrival, calls out in his loudest voice ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ The crowds tell him to be quiet, to stop disturbing Jesus — he doesn’t have time for the likes of him! But this man in his suffering knows only Jesus can heal and save. He desperately needs saving, so he persists and cries out even louder. 

Jesus heals the man for his unwavering faith, and everyone starts praising God. Jesus has power to heal and give sight to the blind. Both physically, like the blind beggar receiving his sight, but also for those whose eyes are closed off to God and the gospel. 

The crowd around the beggar, originally doubting, praised God as a result of the man’s bold trust in Jesus. Seeing or sharing stories of the miraculous, builds faith within others that the same healing power is available for them and us. We, too, can cry out in faith for God to heal and bring sight to the blind. 

Apply: Think of the miracle you're crying out to God for right now: healing, boldness to step out in obedience, for a loved one to be saved. Ask in courage that the Lord would have mercy on you and give you the gift of faith to trust him.

Devote: God, have mercy on me, a sinner longing to live a life of great faith. I bring this longing to you for a miraculous, powerful move of the Spirit.