Throwing Off My Outer Garment

I was reading in the Gospel of Mark this morning and the Holy Spirit is revealing his secrets to me again!  Mark 10:46-52  The scene is Jesus walking with his disciples and the blind man Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is walking by and begins yelling wildly for Jesus.  The crowd around the man are rebuking him, telling him to be still, which makes Bartimaeus yell all the more.  Jesus stops and calls him to Himself and Bartimaeus removes his outer garment and runs to Jesus;  asking for his sight to be restored, and Jesus said "Go your way, your faith has healed you."

The Word of God is overflowing with little nuggets of truth.  Often times I overlook them; missing them or dismissing them simply as words in a story.  Sometimes, like today, one of these nuggets jumps off the page and the four little, seemingly insignificant words become a teaching or an instruction that alters my steps.  Its truly amazing!  As I looked at these words today, I couldn't help but realize that they were a key phrase and important part of Bartimaeus' healing, and perhaps ours as well.

I believe that the blind man removed more than just his cloak.  In the natural, he may  have removed it so as not to trip over it while leaping  up and running to our Lord; but I believe this speaks in the spiritual realm as well. 

There are things in my life and, if I were to guess, your lives as well, that need to be removed so that we can move freely toward Jesus.  There are things in us and things that we carry that trip us up.  There are things that God puts his finger on and says, in His still small voice, "let's get rid of this", so that we can receive the next blessing from Him; the next step, if you will,  toward greater freedom in Christ.

Bartimaeus, threw off the outer garment of the world and then called Jesus "Master". (Mk 10:51)  Giving Jesus the Lordship over His life.   His sight was restored, again, not only physically but spiritually as well, as the story reveals that he began to walk with  or "accompanied Jesus on the road." (Mk 10:52) 

As I prepare to go about my day today, I am seeking God for that which He would have me throw off my back--things that I carry that hinder me and cause me to stumble-- and remembering that He is my Master, who has only  my good in mind.

Father, I praise and thank you for Your Word which is always timely and in season.  I pray that as this day goes on that You will reveal to me and to whomever is reading this message, that which needs to be put aside in order that we may walk with You in greater freedom.  I thank You that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. You have only our best in mind.  Amen