Revival
Three Kinds Of People
    "And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.  And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.    And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.    After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly"  (Mark 8:22-25).
     In this passage there is an account about a blind man who was brought to Jesus.  After Jesus touched the man's eyes, the man said that he saw men as trees walking.  Then when Jesus touched his eyes again, he saw clearly.

    This story gives us a picture of three kinds of people.  First, there are those who are blind to others.  In one sense they don't see others, but are also dependent upon others to meet their needs.

    The second type sees others as trees, just an object to be used.  Their vision is blurred.  They see others as a sex object, a means of income, or a stepping stone to a better position.  They think like, "What can I get out of  this person."  They look at at others as to see what value they have to them.

    The third type sees others clearly.  They see others as having personal needs.  They have a tender heart like Jesus that reaches out to the needy. Luke records that Jesus wept over the city (Luke 19:41-44).  After God healed me some years ago, I looked around and saw the same people who I had always seen, but I saw them as wounded and hurting people.  You see, before God healed me, I was hard hearted and didn't even notice it.  Ezekiel prophesied of God's work in the New Covenant saying, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh"  (Ezekiel 36:26).
A tender heart is one that is sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.  Then we need to look to see how God may use us to meet the needs of others.

    Again, we need to see how we can help others. Paul exhorts us by saying, "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Romans 12:13-15).   David prayed,  "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Psalms 51:10-13).  David wanted to be free to see the needs of others and minister to them.

    What kind of person are you?  Have you stopped to see those around you?  Do you see your boss, spouse, or friend as having needs? Have you asked God how He might use you to meet their needs?   Do you need a second touch from Jesus?  Revival comes, whether it be an individual or a church, in seeing and ministering to their needs of others. See "The Healing of Emotions"

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