July 1 He Got Up

Luke 18:43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
 
WHEN we first met this blind man of Jericho two lessons back, we saw the evidence of his faith. He believed testimonies of Jesus’ preaching and healing. Then he eagerly responded to the news “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” to call out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The Lord was in his presence, and the man faithfully called to him.
    Jesus, indeed, had mercy on the blind man and re-formed his eyes to see. The good news is that Jesus has mercy on all who call on his name.
    Yes, sometimes the mercy is quickly visible. He heals physically as with this man. Then even more, the Triune God manifests his eternal mercy to those who call on his name to be healed from sin.
    That’s right. Each time someone calls on Jesus to faithfully, “confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Think of it! Such faith is granted to mankind to respond to the Lord’s presence in our lives. We get to open our mouths and call out to Jesus, the Savior. How great is the love that flows from heaven unto the repentant soul! As the blind man became new physically, all who call on Jesus in faith become new spiritually.
    What, then, did the man do? Notice how he “followed Jesus, praising God.”  What joy! Transformed and made new in Christ’s power, he didn’t just sit and dwell in his blessing, did he? He got up to go with the Son of David to praise God’s saving grace. Let’s be this way, too. Let’s get up and follow our Savior with praise on our lips and passion in our hearts.
    Then receive one more beautiful point to this story. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. The one created new in Christ became a living testimony to God’s power come to earth. The crowd who blindly tried to keep the man from Jesus now had eyes, also, to see the reality of Jesus who had come “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18b-19)
    How about it, Christian? Do you call on Jesus to answer your prayers? What do you do with your salvation? Are you praising God as he desires? Are you causing others to praise God with your testimony? If not, what do you still need to see?
    Tomorrow we’ll meet another man who wanted to see Jesus.
 
Prayer: Forgive me, Father, as I keep my needs, your healing and your salvation to myself. Loosen my tongue to praise you and testify of your great mercies. Amen.