Have you ever experienced periods in your life where you weren’t walking in step with Christ? When your life is out of rhythm with your walk as a Christian, you tend to feel exhausted, burned out, and broken.
Why?
Because the ways of the world draw us to sin. We have a constant battle to give in to what is culturally acceptable and how we are called to live Biblically. The wages of sin are death, and when we give into sin, we are pulled down, destroyed, and our focus is on the negative.
As you ponder that thought, think about the story of Bartimeaus.
**** Mark 10:46-52 ****
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came 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.
****
Like Bartimaeus, we often walk around blind, focused on pain, brokenness, and hurt in our lives. When our focus is on those things, we lose sight of who Christ is and the greater purpose he has for us in our lives. It’s important that instead, we walk in step with Christ.
That was the message Pastor Andy Coats shared on Sunday at Trinity Baptist Church.
How do you get your life in step with Christ?
One way is by understanding how he walked while He was on earth.
1. The Steps of Jesus are Purposeful
As Jesus was on his way to the cross for his trial and ultimate crucifixion, he deviated from the normal path and went to Jericho. There was a faster way to get to where he was going, but He chose to go through Jericho. As he came into the city, He had the opportunity to heal Bartimaeus.
As we study the stories of Jesus throughout his time on earth, we realize His ways are higher than our ways. Our thoughts are lower than His thoughts. It is not our place to question “Why?” He allows things to happen. It is our place to walk in obedience and faith that He has a greater purpose.
Sometimes we may never see how the pain we went through drew others to Christ. Sometimes we may never know why we walked through a tough journey because the ultimate outcome God needed from our suffering was found in the salvation of someone we touched along the way. (If you’ve never read the book The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, I highly encourage you to. It takes a fable approach to exploring this very real part of our walk in life).
2. The Steps of Jesus are Personal
When you read the story of Bartimaeus, you may not realize that Jesus called Him over after Bartimaeus had cried out to him. As a beggar, who was probably without family or friends, those around Bartimaeus tried to make him be quiet as Jesus passed by.
When you reach the point in life that you are calling out to Jesus for help, many will try to silence you, too. But Jesus knows who you are. He will call out to you, the way He called out to Bartimaeus. When He calls you, how will you respond? Will you jump to your feet and answer?
3. The Steps of Jesus are Practical
Everyone in the town knew what Bartimaeus needed. It’s likely he sat in the same spot every day begging for food and money. Bartimaeus could have asked Jesus for those same things. When he had the opportunity to ask Jesus for something, he asked Him for what only Jesus could provide … his sight.
Often, we miss what Jesus is trying to do in our lives because we are so wrapped up in the other needs of our life. We are busy working to make money. Our time is stolen from our families and our church and discipleship because we are busy with “other obligations”. We stay focused on our “surface needs” instead of our “spiritual needs” because our heart is focused on the wrong treasure.
4. The Steps of Jesus are Powerful
When Jesus heals Bartimaeus, he doesn’t stay in Jericho where he has been a beggar. Instead, he follows Jesus.
Where Jesus calls us to go, we should go. When he leads us down a journey we do not understand, we shouldn’t be afraid to go down the path.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and to help turnaround the messes we have made, we shouldn’t revert back to our old ways. We must always remember our ways and our thoughts are lower than God’s ways. It’s easy to revert back to old habits when we get out of step with Christ.
**** Isaiah 55:8-9 ****
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
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If you’ve been walking out of step with Christ, today is a new day to fix your rhythm.
Click here to watch the full message.