John Grant

Week Twenty-Eight, 2026

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” – Mark 10:47

He was sitting along the roadside, where he usually sat, begging for coins in his small tin cup. You see, he was blind and couldn’t work. He needed alms to survive. His name was Bartimaeus.

He was in Jericho along the road to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar whose miraculous healing by Jesus is recounted in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. His story is celebrated as a powerful example of persistent faith, as he cast aside his begging cloak to follow Jesus on the road. He didn’t ask for sight; he asked for mercy.

In biblical theology, Bartimaeus’s story is often juxtaposed with that of the “Rich Young Ruler.” While the wealthy man turned away from Jesus because of his possessions, Bartimaeus—who had nothing but his cloak—recognized Jesus as the Messiah, cast aside his meager belongings, and chose discipleship. His plea, “Son of David, have mercy on me,” remains one of the most famous prayers in Christian tradition.

The core lesson of Blind Bartimaeus (found in Mark 10:46-52) is that persistent faith, even in the face of adversity, unlocks God’s mercy and leads to true discipleship.

It is a lesson for us as Christians. No matter what we face, no matter how difficult, Jesus’ mercy is available to us, and we are called to discipleship. He can use us in the worst of times in a great way.

We never know what tomorrow will bring, but Jesus will always be there for us.

Sometimes True Stories

Take a good look at the world around you. There isn’t a single thing that wasn’t made by God at the beginning. And it was created out of nothing—Genesis 1:1. The variety is extraordinary. We see drab, gray elephants and incredibly colorful birds and everything in between. All of this was done in great detail, including you. You have body parts that function in a way that you can’t explain.

So, did Jesus create sin? Of course not. But He did allow for free will, resulting in man’s rebellion and separation from His presence. Knowing that would happen, He created His greatest, most extraordinary gift to us… salvation.

He took on our sin and offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice so that, in trusting Him, we can freely enter God’s presence. By that act, He exalted Himself above all creation—more extraordinary than elephants, birds, or our body parts. And He invites us to freely accept His salvation, no strings attached.

He truly created it all. – Rich Jensen

– 0 –

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Have you ever thought about the journey of Abraham, Job, and Paul? Is there anyone who ever trusted God more than these three? They lived this proverb through pain we can only imagine. These two verses apply to thousands of situations and speak to every problem, every decision, and every fear. In short, they apply to every life situation. Trust in the Lord—the Lord God Almighty, the Sovereign Ruler of heaven and earth, the One who made us and loves us. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Trust is more of a heart thing than a head thing. In all your ways acknowledge Him. Acknowledge that He is the Lord, the Almighty God, the King; that He is God and we are not; that He is worthy of our trust, the Shepherd who cares for us; and that He will make straight our paths. Here’s the promise of God: When we trust Him, He will take care of us. He will bless us and lead us and protect us. God will see us through, but it will not be a pain-free journey. – Tony Ferguson

Quotes You Can Use

There’s more power in Jesus than there is sin in us.

Even demons have faith, while Christians have a Master.

We have an internal problem, and that is sin—corrected by an external solution, Jesus.

Works are the proof of our salvation.

Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world. – Francis Schaeffer

Where there’s a garden, there’s a gardener.

Let Christ be magnified in me.

We are saved by faith alone, but saving faith never remains alone—it produces a life of obedience and compassion.

In all your life, you’ve never experienced a love like the love God has for you.

Heroes don’t always wear capes; sometimes they wear headsets or hard hats, or carry lesson plans and orders to the kitchen.

Where flowers bloom, so does hope.

The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude.

If you submit to Him, you will gradually begin to see the shape God is forming in you.

Words once spoken can never be retracted, but words left unspoken can almost always be said better another day.

We simply cannot live a Christian life with an attitude of hatred.

You may be going through some unpleasant experiences, but that doesn’t mean that God’s thoughts toward you are evil.

Disruption is unsettling and uncomfortable, but it serves an important purpose.

Rest satisfied with doing well, and let others talk of you as they please.

A life without Christ is—never enough.

Never underestimate a mother’s influence!

God may use suffering to produce a greater good that could not be achieved otherwise.

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” – Proverbs 20:24

***

Address all items and comments to [email protected]

© Thoughts on Life Copyright 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA