“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. (Mark 10:51-52, NIV)
Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, was sitting along the roadside as he normally did when Jesus walked by him. When he heard it was Jesus, he began shouting, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but Bartimaeus shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus (Mark 10:47-49).
Jesus already knew Bartimaeus was blind, but he still asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus wanted to see and believed Jesus could heal him. Because of his faith, he was immediately healed and joined the crowd following Jesus.
More than 2,000 years later, Bubba Watson stood looking at what seemed like an impossible 160-yard shot from deep within the trees on the second playoff hole of the 2012 Masters. One golf critic has described Bubba as “an amusing novelty act with too much baggage for the elite ranks.” I imagine many thought similarly of Bartimaeus. On this Easter Sunday, Bubba ignored the negative voices and had faith in his ability to execute one of the best approach shots of his life on the way to becoming the Masters champion.
Bartimaeus and Bubba both exhibit three qualities we all can glean from. First, they did not let the voices in the crowd limit what they believed was possible; second, they recognized a vision is worth fighting for; and finally, they threw off what was holding them back.
The world can be loud, and the evil one will use many devices to shut us down and limit our impact. Every day we need to put more of the Word in our hearts so that the loudest voice we hear and follow is the Lord’s. When we face obstacles that seem to block the vision God places in our hearts, we need to surround ourselves with a community of people who will encourage us through prayer, and who will believe along with us that with Jesus all things are possible. It is also important to recognize and throw off the “cloaks” we wear that hold us back. This may include fear, unbelief, doubt, laziness, or unhealthy relationships.
Bartimaeus was constantly kicked to the side and ignored, but he pressed through the rebukes of the crowd to get Jesus’ attention. The cloak Bartimaeus wore was known as the “beggar’s cloak,” and it separated him from the rest of society. When he threw it off, he showed he believed in Jesus for something better. During the playoff, when Bubba experienced the tension and pressure of what appeared to be disaster, he kept his focus. He saw what he needed to do and did not back down. Bubba has learned to throw off the mindset that in order to win on tour one needs a perfect golf swing. He pursues excellence by using his imagination and creativity.
What enabled these two men to overcome their circumstance was their focus. Bartimaeus had faith in Jesus and that he could give him his sight back. After winning one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, Bubba’s heart and words have sincerely honored Jesus Christ as being his Lord and Savior.
We do not have to sit along the roadside discouraged. When we continue to put our faith in Jesus alone, we will recognize the right voice to follow, have the passion to fight for our vision, and the courage to throw off what is holding us back. The possibilities are endless.
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Tracy Hanson
May 3, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday through Friday at www.linksplayers.com.