PARABLE OF THE PENCIL---------------The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be." "One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand." "Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil." "Three: I will be able to correct mistakes you might make." "Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside." "Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now remember the pencil is like you. Always remember it and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess. Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person. Three: God will be able to forgive mistakes you might make. Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.
Bartimaeus a man who took steps to change his life that we can use to change our lives. Mark 10:42-52
Mark 10:42-52
Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. [43] But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. [44] Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. [45] It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."[46] Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. [47] When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth {was passing by}, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
[48] The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
[49] Jesus stopped and said, "Call him!" They called the blind man and told him, "Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you." [50] The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.
[51] Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see again."
[52] Jesus told him, "Go, your faith has made you well."
At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.
In this scripture, we see a demonstration of the steps one man took to change his life. We find here the basic steps we need to change our lives – 7 basic steps to get out of hopelessness. Jesus had been preaching and teaching in the area around the Sea of Galilee. It was on his way to Jerusalem, he passed through Jericho and there he encounters a blind man named Bartimaeus. What steps do we find here to help us?
1 – YOU NEED TO Assume responsibility For Your Life! : “When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out.” One needs to own up to your responsibility. Many people talk about their problems and they say that it’s always someone else’s fault? So we have teenagers who place blame on their parents. We have parents who place the blame on their children. We have workers who place the blame on their co-workers or their boss. There are things that will happen to you that you cannot control, but you can be in command of your reaction. Let’s repeat that. There are things that will happen to you that you cannot control, but you can be in command of your reaction. Have you not heard people say “He makes me so mad” or “She makes me so mad”? Who has control over you to make you mad? The person who can make you mad is the one you see in the mirror. True people do things that upset you, things you do not like, things that hurt you. You make the decision how to respond. Look at what Bartimaeus did. He didn’t blame someone else. He didn’t think that God or anyone else owed him something. He went go to Jesus. He knew his help was in a power higher than himself. He cried out to Jesus for help. He humbled himself and sought help and deliverance. He was not the one who made himself blind but instead of blaming others he cried out for help from the One who made sight.
2 – YOU NEED TO Believe that You Can CHANGE: “The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see again." He believed that Jesus would do something so he wouldn’t walk away the same. He believed that he’d be DIFFERENT. Why is it that some pray, “God, if you’ll just change my employer"; “if you’ll just change my husband or my wife or my children?” “If you’ll just change my friend, my relative, or where I have to live.” God does not say that he will change your situation. What He does promise is that He will change you. He is able to change your attitude, your viewpoint, your outlook. Then you can change your attitude toward your situation. Bart knew that Jesus could change him and that is what he wanted. What have you asked Jesus for lately?
3 – YOU NEED TO make clear What You Really NEED: “Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Specific prayers get specific answers. Jesus already knew what the man needed. Jesus wanted the man to say it. How often do we play communication games with others? Such as wife will say, “He doesn’t meet my needs.” “Does he know what you need”? “If he loves me, he ought to know!” He ought to know, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he really knows. You have to tell him what your needs are. I like to help my wife but there are times she needs to say will you do me a favor? Will you wash the dishes? Will you take out the trash? Will you rub my back? There are times when I will do these things without being asked but occasionally I need to be told. What about a spouse that will say, “I’m so mad at him”. He has no clue that you are mad at him for he is slow to catch on. I at times need to know that I have upset my wife and she needs to let me know. If this happens as an example why do we assume that since God knows everything, we don’t have to tell him? He wants us to tell him what we need, exactly what we need. Jesus meets your needs when you tell him what your needs are and I have found that many a time He goes beyond what I have asked for. Could it be that He sometimes doesn’t meet our needs because we never tell Him what we really want. Notice Bartimaeus’ cry – “Have mercy on me”. He was beggar just as we are in need of God’s mercy and grace. He didn’t cry out for food, or clothing, or money or housing which were needs I am sure he had. He received his sight that day. He was clear in what he needed and Jesus responded. Because he was clear in what he asked for he was healed that day. What is your need for today? Have your clearly asked for it?
4 – YOU NEED TO be not bothered about What Other People Will Say: “The people told him to be quiet. They were telling him, “Nobody wants to hear what you have to say! Be quiet.” This isn’t the right place. This isn’t the right time. Nobody’s ever done it that way before. You shouldn’t do that. We find ourselves in difficulty when we worry about what other people think or will think. Would you believe that here everyone else was wrong. Everyone else told him he shouldn’t do it that way. He didn’t care what the practice was. He didn’t care if all the people agreed that you just don’t approach Jesus that way. He knew he needed help and he refused to be denied. Have you prayed for something and God hasn’t answered you yet? Keep on calling out to God. Is there a need God hasn’t met it yet. Keep on calling out to God. Are you hurting and don’t have an answer? Keep on crying out to God. Are people telling you to give up? Are people telling you to quit. Are people telling you that God doesn’t care? Are you worried about what other people think or what other people will say? Are you concerned about how it might look? Are you worried that other people will think you foolish? Do not worry are the words of Jesus. So don’t quit. Don’t give up. Just cry out even louder! Perseverance – one of the greatest attributes a Christian can have is persistence. Jesus told a parable about the neighbor who comes at midnight and rewarded for his persistence. When we stand before God He will not ask what others think but what we believe. What do you believe today, that will make life, as God wants you to have?
5 –YOU NEED TO Stop Waiting for perfect CONDITIONS: 46 “a great crowd was following.” He was waiting beside the road. Others were already traveling with Jesus. Others already had the opportunity. Bartimeaus it seems would have no chance. Did you know that this is the last time Jesus would come to Jerusalem? If he had missed Jesus, if he had waited for “more ideal conditions", he never would have been healed. We have to quit waiting for just the right time. We have to quit waiting for the right opportunity to come along. It may not happen. We have to seize the opportunities God gives us – when He gives them. I ask you today to seek Jesus while He is here. Life will never give you a perfect time but I want you to know God’s time is always.
6 – YOU NEED TO Do Something Bold and DRAMATIC: “The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.” Sometimes, we have to do something different. We can’t do the same old thing. If you’re going to break out of our rut; if you want life to be different, you need to do something bold and dramatic. Hebrews 12:1 says; let us lay aside every weight, every sin that so easily entangles us.” It says to lay aside every burden and every sin. Whatever is that is keeping you from keeping Jesus first in your life? Whatever is keeping you from running to Jesus? Whatever is holding you back from surrendering your life to the LORDSHIP of Jesus? Bartimaeus took off his coat and ran to Jesus. He did something bold, dramatic and different. How many times have you heard? “When I get older.” “When I get more time.” “When I get the chance.” “After I get past this test, or this meeting, or this problem, or this trouble.” “Just do it!” James 1:22-25 “Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. [23] If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, [24] studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s teachings say. “
7 – Follow JESUS: “Then he followed Jesus down the road.”
After you’ve followed the six steps above to break out of your rut in 2005, then do what Bartimaeus did,
FOLLOW Jesus!!
I CAN MAKE IT FROM THERE
The story is told of the little boy that had wondered away from his home, not paying attention to where he had wondered to as he followed his dog until he noticed that his surroundings were no longer familiar to him. His eyes welled up with tears, his little heart filled with fright. Directly, his emotions were no longer controllable. He stood on the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. Soon, a police officer noticed the young boy crying. He approached the little fellow. "What is the matter, son?" Through his tears and sobbing, the little boy said, "I’m lost! I had followed my dog away from home and now I’m lost!" and sobbed even more. The police officer knelt down beside the little one and gently said, "Son, not to worry. I’ll help you get home." The little boy took a step backward. The police officer gently said, "I’ll not hurt you. My job is to see to it that you get safely home. Please let me help." After a second or two, the little fellow took the officer by the hand. "Now, where do you live? What is the name of the street?" the officer asked. The little one looked around and said, "I can’t remember the name of my street." His fear began to return. "O.K." the police officer said. "What is your telephone number? We can call your Mom or Dad and they can come get you." "We don’t have a telephone in our house." "Well, then, can you give me a landmark of some kind?" "Yes," the little one said and brightened up. "Not too far from our house is a church with a high steeple with a cross on top of it. Do you know where that steeple might be?" "Yes, I do, son." "Well, then, please take me to the foot of that cross and I can make if from there!" Author Unknown
