Luke 18:35-38
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
Several years ago I was watching an episode of The First 48. This is a program that follows homicide detectives as they try to solve murder cases. The suspect in the homicide was a young woman with an extensive criminal history. As the detectives questioned her, she was defiant and bitter. She railed out at them because of her miserable life and denied any involvement in the murder.
It just so happened that her interrogation took place on Thanksgiving Day. There were many police officers who had to work that day and in order to show kindness, the department had brought in a complete buffet of tasty food.
After spending fruitless time interrogating the young woman, the detectives left her alone and went into the main office to get a plate of food. One of the detectives suddenly remembered the young woman and filled a plate for her and returned to the interrogation room.
The detective placed the plate of food in front of the young woman and said; Let’s thank the Lord for the food. He took her hand and the other detective’s hand. He prayed for each of them at that table and thanked the Lord for the food. Suddenly there was a heart-stopping transformation.
The young woman began to weep and poured out her need to get right with the Lord. She confessed the terrible crime she had committed and asked the Lord’s forgiveness for the horrendous crime she had committed. Wow! In that moment, this miserable girl cried out to the Lord to not pass her by, and He didn’t. It reminds me of the old hymn, Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
To access Pass Me Not, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/passmenot/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil