LUKE 18:35-43
‘Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet,
but he shouted all the more!’ (v. 39)
There was no way anyone was going to make the blind beggar shut up. It probably is not profitable for beggars to make a nuisance of themselves, but there was more at stake here than some spare change from the people passing by. It was Jesus, who was passing and the beggar was determined to get his attention.
It is fair to assume, on the background of his reaction, that he had heard of Jesus and also of his healings. He was at least very clear and direct when Jesus asked him what he wanted: ‘Lord, I want to see.’ When he understood Jesus was passing he knew this was his chance and he was not going to let it pass.
There is much we can learn from this short passage, but it began with the beggar not only understanding it was an opportune time, but him actually seizing the opportunity. In his case it was an opportunity to receive and be blessed, but it can equally be seizing the opportunity to give and to bless. Paul, admonishes the Colossians to ‘make the most of every opportunity’ (Col. 4:5). He is specifically speaking about our interaction with non-believers, but the lesson goes far beyond that.
When God opens doors of opportunity in front of us, let us always go through them. It can be the possibility to share Christ with an unbeliever, or maybe to offer to pray for a brother or sister. Maybe it is just the right time to call a friend, or maybe it is the time for us to seek prayer for ourselves. What the blind beggar teaches us is that in all things to be aware of the God-moments, be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and to seize the opportunity, when it is there.
Action: Pray God will show you opportunities to minister his love to others during the coming days, and for boldness to seize the opportunity.