What are you hearing?

Mark 10:46-47
And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Consider the healing of Bartimaeus, the blind man in Mark 10. Imagine sitting by the roadside unable to see who was coming but able to hear the crowd. As they approached, envision Bartimaeus asking the first passers-by, “Why such a crowd?” or “Who is with you?” He must have been eager to know what was happening. He would have been able to sense the energy of the crowd, and even feel their excitement.

When he realizes that Jesus is coming, note his response.

Bartimaeus calls Him, “Jesus, Son of David,” demonstrating that he not only has heard the man Jesus approaching but that he sees this man as the Messiah! The Lord allowed Bartimaeus’ ears to be opened that his eyes might truly see!

And his heart’s response?

“…have mercy on me!”

Have you heard the Son of David approaching?

Have you seen that He is the Messiah?

Have you responded with a heart in need of mercy, recognizing the One before you?

Improving Your Love Language

Gary Chapman’s Book entitled The 5 Love Languages^®, the Secret to Love That Lasts has become a classic tool used for improving relationships. It has been years since I read this book. Recently when asked to introduce ourselves in a mixed group we were to share our name and our love language. Although this provided levity, it also caused me to reflect on what God thinks about Love Languages.

God is our Maker, knitting us together in ways that we don’t even understand about ourselves. He knows how we best express our love, and He knows how those we are in contact with: spouse, family members, friends and co-workers – function as well. There is value in understanding how we perceive love and how it differs from how those around us perceive it. This takes us outside of our selfish boxes and allows us to minister to others with a deeper understanding of their makeup.

However, let us consider Christ’s model: He didn't limit himself to one method.

Christ’s Words of Affirmation are seen in His words to the woman with the alabaster jar, “…She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:8-9 ESV) His Tangible Gift is seen in the feeding of the 5000 in John chapter 6. His Quality Time was demonstrated with his disciples as they shared the final Passover Meal with Him as relayed in John 13 and following. His sweet Physical Touch is displayed there as well as He humbly washes their feet beginning in John 13:4. An illustration of an Act of Service was His first miracle in the second chapter of John when He changed water into wine for His mother.

The love Jesus showed each of us on the cross embodies all of these languages, allowing His touch to be felt by all who seek Him! Aren't you grateful!

So rather than asking what your love language is, perhaps a better question to ask is: which love language do I demonstrate the least? Lord, help us to be better at reflecting and demonstrating love for You and the others you have placed in our lives.

Let us be  “ looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”( Hebrews 12’2 ESV)

(Chapman, 1992, 1995, 2004, 2010, 2015)

Inadequate words....

How do you respond when called up on to speak out for the Lord?  If you are like me your first response may be to pull back in fear, inadequate or unsure that your words will be right. The desire to be faithful to represent our Savior well is good and right. However, if our desire is eclipsed by fear and no words come, then we represent our fear not the Spirit and power given. Christ came that we might have salvation. He left His Helper with us that we might rely on that Spirit and demonstrate to our world a loving God who cares more about our hearts than the tangled words we use to express our hearts.

These words from I Corinthians 2:3-5 reassure us:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)

So Lord, in our weakness may You be strong. May we know nothing except You, Jesus, crucified on our behalf and may we represent you well. For our glory alone!