Sunday sermon

Pastor preached on faith, which sounds simple at the outset but I learned a lot. For instance, pure, unadulterated faith is unwavering. When we have that kind of strong faith, we don't say "Well, I'll pray for X but it probably won't happen. Others get their prayers answered but I never do." That's not faith at all. That's doubt.

He used the story of blind Bartimaeus to illustrate faith unwavering. This man would NOT be deterred from reaching Jesus. He knew about Jesus. He'd heard about the miracles. So he sat in his assigned begging spot and called out, even though the entourage around Jesus tried to get him to be quiet. He called all the louder. Jesus stopped and asked him what did he want. Bartimaeus said simply, to see again. Jesus made him see, and Bartimaeus then followed him.

This miracle meant Bartimaeus didn't have to sit and beg anymore. He could now make his own living and be a productive member of society. He could even then begin to give to others instead of always being on the receiving end. All because he had an unwavering faith that Jesus could and would do for him what He'd done for others - no doubts at all.