Don't Judge Why Someone is Coming To Christ

Sometimes it's very easy to think that people are trying to benefit themselves and aren't coming to Church or to Christ for the right reasons. Elder Uchtdorf mentioned that some members were unkind to people who joined the church in Germany after World War II when the church was giving food to the people. He said that some members did leave after a while, but many stayed in the church showing that they didn't come just for food.

I was reminded of this story when reading Mark 10. In this story, a blind man becomes very outspoken in calling to Jesus and asking for a healing. Many people wanted the man to be quiet, but Jesus called him forward and healed him. Particularly interesting is the last verse, in which Jesus tells him to go where he'd like, and the man chooses to follow Jesus.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath ^amadethee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

It seems that people expected the man to not follow Jesus or that he was being loud annoying people. However, once healed, he was a true disciple. It is wise for us to never judge someone's intentions when coming closer to the Lord.

Here's the entire story as recorded in Mark:

46 ¶And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind ^aBartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging.

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the ^ablind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath ^amadethee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.