DEVOTION – DAY 201

Mark 10:50-52 “Right Motives”

 

Mark 10:50-52 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came close to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

 

Bartimaeus was blind. He was begging by the roadside for a living. When he heard Jesus was passing by, he shouted loudly and persistently, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” He acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah for the title “Son of David” referred to the promised Messiah of Israel. Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted from Him. This question was the same question Jesus asked his disciples James and John earlier in Mark 10:36 – an incident that just happened before Mark 10:46-52. The outcome to Jesus’ question was very different. In the case of James and John, Jesus did not grant them what they wanted because their motives were selfish. However, in the case of Bartimaeus, his need was genuine and so, Jesus granted his request. From this passage, we learn that God can see right into our hearts. He is interested in our motives and He sees beyond external actions.

 

A man prayed that the Lord would deliver him from financial disaster. He had been unwise with his funds and had gone into debt. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic happened and his business was badly affected. He asked the Lord to come to his aid but the Lord was silent. On reflection, his cries for help were selfish. He was not destitute or hungry. His family was still able to pay essential bills. He had wanted the Lord to help restore him back to his former comfortable lifestyle. Such expectations were unrealistic as he had not learnt his lesson from the cause of his indebtedness. On the other hand, we know someone who lived simply. She was content with what the Lord had given her. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer, she did not question the Lord. She prayed for healing and her cancer went into remission. Later, the cancer came back. She surrendered her condition to the Lord trusting that the Lord knows the perfect timing to take her home to be with Him. She was at peace with what time the Lord had given to her. So, she would thank the Lord for each day that she had until she took her last breath.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of being able to present our prayer requests before you and to know you hear our prayers. Please search our hearts and may we present our petitions with motives pleasing to you. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What is your attitude when you go to the Lord with your prayers and petitions? Do you feel entitled? Do you think you deserve to have your prayers answered?
  2. What motivates you to pray? Share and Discuss.
  3. What should be your attitude when you go to the Lord in prayer? Discuss.
  4. How can you cultivate a humble and contrite heart when you go to the Lord in prayer? Discuss.