I once dreamt of a blind man who was imprisoned inside a wired fence. He wore silver hair that glistened much like the surface of the sea when illuminated at the break of dawn. The sun, like a spotlight, focused down upon him as he danced for freedom, I assume to the beat of his heart. I realized at this moment that the gated fence standing firm and tall was on either side of him, and I was perplexed as to why he didn't leave as nothing blocked him from moving forward. I encouraged him to walk towards me and dip his toes in the ocean, where I stood. But, he didn't. I then drifted further away from him out to sea and prayed a simple prayer, "Lord, let him see."
I was reminded of this dream earlier today while reading about the two blind men who received their sight in Matthew 20:29-34. As the story goes, Jesus was leaving Jericho with a great multitude of people following him. Along the way, two blind men were sitting by the side of the road. When they got wind of Jesus' whereabouts, they cried out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David" (Matthew 20:30). The crowd heard this and tried to silence them, but the two blind men desperately cried out again, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David" (Matthew 20:31). Jesus then stops in his tracks and calls to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" (Matthew 20:32). They requested that their eyes be opened. As this story concludes, scripture reveals that Jesus had compassion for them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received sight and followed Him.
My heart is overwhelmed with joy for these two blind men. Not only did they receive their sight both physically and spiritually, but their story illuminates a simple truth--God honors a desperate heart who earnestly seeks Him. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus states, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Despite the rebuke of the crowd, the two blind men did not lose heart. They were determined to receive healing. They asked not once, but twice for the Lord's mercy. It was the second time around that Jesus was compelled to stop what He was doing and attend to their requests. These two men demonstrated action behind belief. They sought the Lord and then made their requests known. As a result, Jesus revealed Himself in all of His authority.
Many of us are hungering for truth. We may skim through the pages of the bible in hopes that something might stick. But, lukewarm faith isn't a part of God's design. Pray, before you enter God's word, that the Holy Spirit would make the living word alive to you. If you desire to know more about the Lord, be diligent in seeking Him, for He has promised to reveal Himself to those who pursue Him. In addition, in the same manner as the two blind men who cried out to Jesus, make your requests known to God. It's not that God doesn't already know the desires of our hearts. He knows everything about us, down to the last strand of hair upon our heads. But, think about it this way, how will a door be opened for someone who desires to be let in, if he or she doesn't knock? James 4:2 tells us, "You do not have, because you do not ask". Something is to be said of a man (or woman) who fervently prays and desperately seeks God's face daily. In doing so, we are admitting to Him that we can't make it through this journey of life alone; we need His supernatural strength to see us through.
When I think back on the dream I had, I wanted so badly for the blind man to abandon his captor, if only he would take action and literally "step" out on faith. However, I realize now, I couldn't want it for him. He would have to make that decision for himself. All I could do (and the best I could do) is pray. I wonder if the man still dances for freedom. Or perhaps, he has been enlightened by the only One sent to set the captives free. I pray the latter is true for all of us who feel imprisoned, much like the blind man. I pray we live abundantly, abandoning the confines of our own demise. Just keep asking, seeking, and knocking, and in so doing, BE ENCOURAGED that God's word is true and it does not return void.
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