Faith Becomes Yours When You Cry Out And Follow

"Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to CRY OUT AND SAY, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' Then many warned him to be quiet, but he CRIED OUT ALL THE MORE, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called to the blind man, saying to him, 'Be of good cheer. Rise. He is calling you.' And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you? Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.'  Then Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; YOUR FAITH has made you well'. And immediately he received his sight AND FOLLOWED JESUS ON THE ROAD." (Mark 10:46-52)

Bartimaeus' way was now Jesus' way. He cried out to Him for the mercy of God and vision, and when he received it, he followed Him. Very important was that miraculous restoration; more important Bartimaeus' vision to follow Jesus on the road. Bartimaeus understood to cry out to Jesus; to cry out all the more when people tried to quiet his crying out. Then Jesus called for him to come. He threw away his garment for the garment of salvation from the AUTHOR OF SALVATION; the AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. The understanding, accompanied by obedient action (the works that are of faith in God) gave Bartimaeus the sight to follow: his faith had made him well. Now he was able to follow Jesus on the road to bear the fruits there of.

 

A Certain Disciple

Acts 9:10-19

"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' So the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.' "

"Then Ananias answered (uncertain, at this point), 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.' And Ananias went his way (now certain enough to obey) and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus."

Ananias could get swallowed up in Paul's testimony, as Paul was commissioned to write a good portion of the New Testament. Paul undoubtedly understood before long, as his own testimony in Christ Jesus commenced, what his brother in Christ Jesus did for him: a testimony of Christ Jesus to Paul. Many are willing to speak of their belief in God; Ananias put action to it, not haphazardly but with the strength of faith in God.    

Your Calling Is After His

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of THE CALLING with which YOU WERE CALLED, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit; just as YOU WERE CALLED in one hope of YOUR CALLING; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6)

after- in agreement or conformity with; in imitation of; following the completion of (3 of 14 definitions from Webster's dictionary)

"Therefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (so) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Jesus Christ), the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of HIS (Jesus Christ's) CALLING, what are the riches of the glory of His (Jesus Christ's) inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (this), according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places...." (Ephesians 4:15-20)

The Christian's calling is in agreement with/conformity to/imitation of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection IN THE HEART. Following the completion of that process of salvation, we shall say, as Paul did, "I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me".

Scripture declares that "though He (Jesus) was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected (made complete) He (then) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8,9)

We know Jesus did; Paul, likewise, speaks of following the Lord in this way. Jesus; Paul, in His name, committed himself to Him who judges righteously. Individual callings follow the completion, in us, of Jesus Christ's calling.