From: B S TURNER Owner
Spiritually Won Knowledge Part 8
Pilate asked the question, "What shall I do with Jesus, which is called Christ?" This question is always asked by those whose minds are directed only outwards and never upwards. For the Christian faith it is an irrelevant question. It is not "What shall I do with Jesus, which is called the Christ?" but "What will Christ do with me?" Our faith is based on a true disclosure of the nature of God in Christ. Whatever it bestows on life or thought, ethics or morals, politics or economics springs from the fact that it is true. The primary question is not even "Will it work?" The primary question is "Is it true?" It claims to be the Spirit of the Whole revealed to those whom God wills. It does not abolish or set aside what men know about matter, life, and mind, but transforms such knowledge in its own light. (Gods Spiritual Universe, Oakman)
Oakman asks a great question – what will Christ do with me? What will Christ do with you? You may already be engaged in a work…but is it the work that the Lord would have you do? It is easy to get caught up in the “shiny” things of our lives.
Elder Hardt presented a message today about a blind man named Bartimeus as found in Mark 10:46-54. Like you I have read that account many times but Brother Hardt took us through it more slowly and deliberately.
As we went through the scripture it was clear to me that while we read a story of a faith that heals it was really a path to being able to hear and see Christ in a way that should speak to all of us.
Not only did Bartimeus have “blind faith” (yep a pun) once he captured the attention of Christ by calling out to him, even though many tried to quiet him, he did something that I had not realized before…let’s see if you can spot it.
Mark 10:49-50 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort; arise, he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, arose and came to Jesus.
If you noticed that he cast away his garment before he went to meet Christ then you are seeing something profound. You see he was not commanded to “cast away his garments” (read sin here) he did that on his own accord as he went to meet the Messiah! He wanted the Lord to see him in the best light possible….my thought is how many times have we called out and the plea was heard but we failed to cast off our old garments? I fear far too many times.
Once he approached Jesus the question was asked even though I am sure that Christ knew the answer.
10:51 And Jesus said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?
Once again we see the agency that is afforded all of us. Christ could have said….”Oh, I see your problem, let me fix that for you” But no, he wanted to know what Bartimeus was seeking, never assuming.
10:52 And the blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
10:53 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.
10:54 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Bartimeus received his sight, something that he desperately wanted, there was no request of payment or servitude of any kind from our Lord. Christ just said “go thy way” from that point Bartimeus could have just left. I am sure that he was grateful for being able to see the many things that he had been hearing for so long.
But he didn’t leave did he? He followed Jesus in the way. Do you think that is because he threw off his garment beforehand? What a testimony was born that day…it truly answers the question "What will Christ do with me?"
As I read “The Endowment”
Now therefore, remember that which has been held before you as your privilege as ministers and co-laborers and friends of the Most High, even as found in the record of the prophetic utterances of this Restoration age, that which is written in D & C 104. Yet, that you may be made to know where you stand, and that you may be made humble, how many of you have sought the great blessings of the Spirit that are your blessed privilege if you will seek in great faith? How many of you, either of the Aaronic or Melchisedec priesthoods, have sought and received the ministry of angels? How many have gone on to seek for and receive the greater experiences that are indicated as being possible in this scripture? (Characteristic #6)
Take a moment and read D&C 104. While this is directed to the Priesthood, as it should be, it is also to each and every member of the body of Christ. What will Christ do with you this day?
Yours in Christ
Brian Turner
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