Words from Bede Circuit

Dear Friends,

Mark Ch10 v46-52  Bartimaeus

Bartimaeus was in a sad state. This poor blind man was sitting by the side of the road, on the margins of life. He was forced to beg and was totally dependent on the charity of others. His situation was hopeless.

We too are blind in many ways. We too are poor before God. Jesus calls us to come to him. He wants to make us well. However, we find it hard to throw the ‘cloak’ away and come to him just as we are. Pride makes us try to put on an outward show.

We may believe that we have to be perfect, otherwise God won`t love us. To admit our faults and failures would cause God to reject us. But if we were perfect, if we were well, we wouldn’t need God at all.

We have to make a radical act of faith and trust in Jesus. We must give up pretending, covering up, hiding behind various screens and masks , and be content to appear before him as we really are. We have nothing to fear but his kindness and healing.

Many people sit at the roadside of life begging, not for money, but for love, for attention , for a feeling that they are important and that life has a meaning. Many of them are too embarrassed to ask for help. They are afraid of being silenced by the indifference of others.

Bartimaeus serves as a model for others. Many people were blind and without direction, but have found purpose, energy and direction in their lives as a result of following Jesus. God wants us to do for others what Jesus did for Bartimaeus. We must not pass the lonely person by or leave them on the margins. But by our love, our care, our time, we are to let a little light into a world of darkness.

There will be a Circuit contemporary worship service on Saturday 30th October at Wrekenton Methodist Church at 6.00pm. The preacher is Matthew Barrick.

Online Bible studies continue each Thursday night at 7pm.

With good wishes and prayers

Revd Huw Sperring on behalf of the Circuit staff team.