What Must We Do?
Recognizing Our Need and Preparing for God's Work
In our spiritual journeys, we often find ourselves asking, "What can I do to experience more of God's presence and power in my life?" While it's true that we cannot force God's hand or manipulate His will, there are ways we can prepare our hearts and lives for His transformative work. Let's explore three key steps we can take to position ourselves for spiritual growth and divine encounters.
1. Recognize Your Need
The story of blind Bartimaeus in Luke 18:35-43 offers a powerful illustration of recognizing our spiritual need. As Jesus was passing by, this blind beggar cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Despite attempts to silence him, Bartimaeus persisted, calling out even louder.
What's remarkable about Bartimaeus' plea is twofold. First, he accurately identified Jesus as the "Son of David" – a messianic title acknowledging Jesus as the promised deliverer. Second, his primary request was for mercy, not healing. This demonstrates a profound understanding of his deepest need.
Like Bartimaeus, we must come to terms with our spiritual blindness and desperate need for God's mercy. The Psalmist reminds us that "There is no one who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:3). Our greatest need isn't for temporary fixes or surface-level changes, but for the transformative mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
When we truly grasp our need for a Savior, we begin to appreciate the immense gift of salvation. Counterintuitively, our weakness becomes our strength, as it drives us to depend fully on God's grace.
2. Make Your Requests Known Through Prayer
Once Bartimaeus caught Jesus' attention, he was asked a simple yet profound question: "What do you want me to do for you?" Without hesitation, the blind man expressed his desire to regain his sight.
This exchange serves as a model for our prayer life. Prayer, at its core, is making our requests known to God. It's an extension of our relationship with Him – a relationship built on love, compassion, and appreciation.
Too often, our prayer lives are hindered by absence, apathy, or unresolved sin. We may start with good intentions but quickly find our minds wandering. To combat this, we must approach God with hearts enlightened by faith, even when our circumstances seem dark.
The apostle Paul encourages us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This doesn't mean we need to be in constant verbal prayer, but rather in an ongoing attitude of communion with God. By cultivating a vibrant prayer life, we open ourselves to God's guidance, comfort, and transformative power.
3. Follow Jesus as a Disciple
After receiving his sight, Bartimaeus didn't simply go on his merry way. The scripture tells us he "followed Jesus, glorifying God" (Luke 18:43). This response goes beyond mere gratitude – it represents a complete life change.
To follow Jesus means becoming His disciple – a learner and imitator of the Master. Discipleship involves:
- Learning from Jesus' example
- Being equipped and trained for spiritual growth
- Doing life in community with other believers
- Embracing both the joys and challenges of the Christian walk
It's important to note that discipleship isn't always easy. Jesus himself said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The path of discipleship often involves sacrifice and difficulty, but it also leads to profound spiritual growth and intimacy with God.
As disciples, we stay connected to the church, serve others, and ultimately glorify Christ through our lives. The Great Commission calls us not just to make converts, but to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20). This ongoing process of growth and transformation is at the heart of the Christian life.
Preparing for God's Work
By recognizing our need, engaging in heartfelt prayer, and committing to follow Jesus as disciples, we create space in our lives for God to work in powerful ways. While we can't control or manipulate God's actions, we can cultivate hearts that are receptive to His leading and transformative power.
Consider the words of Simon Peter in John 6:68. When many were turning away from Jesus due to His challenging teachings, Peter declared, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." This statement encapsulates the heart of true discipleship – a recognition that Jesus alone is the source of life, truth, and salvation.
As we seek to grow spiritually, let's remember that our ultimate goal isn't self-improvement or even personal blessing. Rather, it's to glorify God and make His love known to the world around us. By preparing our hearts through these three steps, we position ourselves to be used by God in ways we may never have imagined.
Reflection and Application
Take some time to ponder these questions:
1. In what areas of your life do you need to more fully recognize your dependence on God's mercy and grace?
2. How can you cultivate a more vibrant and consistent prayer life? What obstacles do you need to overcome?
3. What does it look like for you to follow Jesus as a disciple in your current season of life? Are there areas where you need to "take up your cross" and embrace sacrifice for the sake of spiritual growth?
4. In what ways can you prepare your heart and life to be more receptive to God's transformative work?
As we wrestle with these questions and apply these principles, may we, like Bartimaeus, encounter Jesus in life-changing ways. May our spiritual eyes be opened, our prayers be sincere, and our commitment to follow Christ be unwavering. In doing so, we create fertile ground for God to work mightily in and through our lives.
In Christ's Love,
In our spiritual journeys, we often find ourselves asking, "What can I do to experience more of God's presence and power in my life?" While it's true that we cannot force God's hand or manipulate His will, there are ways we can prepare our hearts and lives for His transformative work. Let's explore three key steps we can take to position ourselves for spiritual growth and divine encounters.
1. Recognize Your Need
The story of blind Bartimaeus in Luke 18:35-43 offers a powerful illustration of recognizing our spiritual need. As Jesus was passing by, this blind beggar cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Despite attempts to silence him, Bartimaeus persisted, calling out even louder.
What's remarkable about Bartimaeus' plea is twofold. First, he accurately identified Jesus as the "Son of David" – a messianic title acknowledging Jesus as the promised deliverer. Second, his primary request was for mercy, not healing. This demonstrates a profound understanding of his deepest need.
Like Bartimaeus, we must come to terms with our spiritual blindness and desperate need for God's mercy. The Psalmist reminds us that "There is no one who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:3). Our greatest need isn't for temporary fixes or surface-level changes, but for the transformative mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
When we truly grasp our need for a Savior, we begin to appreciate the immense gift of salvation. Counterintuitively, our weakness becomes our strength, as it drives us to depend fully on God's grace.
2. Make Your Requests Known Through Prayer
Once Bartimaeus caught Jesus' attention, he was asked a simple yet profound question: "What do you want me to do for you?" Without hesitation, the blind man expressed his desire to regain his sight.
This exchange serves as a model for our prayer life. Prayer, at its core, is making our requests known to God. It's an extension of our relationship with Him – a relationship built on love, compassion, and appreciation.
Too often, our prayer lives are hindered by absence, apathy, or unresolved sin. We may start with good intentions but quickly find our minds wandering. To combat this, we must approach God with hearts enlightened by faith, even when our circumstances seem dark.
The apostle Paul encourages us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This doesn't mean we need to be in constant verbal prayer, but rather in an ongoing attitude of communion with God. By cultivating a vibrant prayer life, we open ourselves to God's guidance, comfort, and transformative power.
3. Follow Jesus as a Disciple
After receiving his sight, Bartimaeus didn't simply go on his merry way. The scripture tells us he "followed Jesus, glorifying God" (Luke 18:43). This response goes beyond mere gratitude – it represents a complete life change.
To follow Jesus means becoming His disciple – a learner and imitator of the Master. Discipleship involves:
- Learning from Jesus' example
- Being equipped and trained for spiritual growth
- Doing life in community with other believers
- Embracing both the joys and challenges of the Christian walk
It's important to note that discipleship isn't always easy. Jesus himself said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The path of discipleship often involves sacrifice and difficulty, but it also leads to profound spiritual growth and intimacy with God.
As disciples, we stay connected to the church, serve others, and ultimately glorify Christ through our lives. The Great Commission calls us not just to make converts, but to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20). This ongoing process of growth and transformation is at the heart of the Christian life.
Preparing for God's Work
By recognizing our need, engaging in heartfelt prayer, and committing to follow Jesus as disciples, we create space in our lives for God to work in powerful ways. While we can't control or manipulate God's actions, we can cultivate hearts that are receptive to His leading and transformative power.
Consider the words of Simon Peter in John 6:68. When many were turning away from Jesus due to His challenging teachings, Peter declared, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." This statement encapsulates the heart of true discipleship – a recognition that Jesus alone is the source of life, truth, and salvation.
As we seek to grow spiritually, let's remember that our ultimate goal isn't self-improvement or even personal blessing. Rather, it's to glorify God and make His love known to the world around us. By preparing our hearts through these three steps, we position ourselves to be used by God in ways we may never have imagined.
Reflection and Application
Take some time to ponder these questions:
1. In what areas of your life do you need to more fully recognize your dependence on God's mercy and grace?
2. How can you cultivate a more vibrant and consistent prayer life? What obstacles do you need to overcome?
3. What does it look like for you to follow Jesus as a disciple in your current season of life? Are there areas where you need to "take up your cross" and embrace sacrifice for the sake of spiritual growth?
4. In what ways can you prepare your heart and life to be more receptive to God's transformative work?
As we wrestle with these questions and apply these principles, may we, like Bartimaeus, encounter Jesus in life-changing ways. May our spiritual eyes be opened, our prayers be sincere, and our commitment to follow Christ be unwavering. In doing so, we create fertile ground for God to work mightily in and through our lives.
In Christ's Love,
Pastor Kirk Flaa
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