email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

September 6, 2019

Mark 10:36, 51-52
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
New International Version (NIV)

                What do you want God to do for you? Jesus asked the same question twice in two very different contexts. Remember that James and John wanted Jesus to put them in positions of power and prestige. Like children, they prefaced their question with, “Just say yes, and we will tell you what we want.” “What do you want me to do for you?” When they told him their desire, he told them no.

                We’ve had a couple of weeks to think about this since I preached on the text. I spent the better part of two months pondering it. Honestly, I’m still working on it. I wonder why God doesn’t always give me what I want. He certainly has a different perspective than I. As James said in 4:3, “When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” Our self-centeredness skews our focus toward something we want to have for our own purposes instead of God’s greater, higher purpose.

                Mark tells another story. Then the blind man, Bartimaeus made a ruckus when Jesus was passing by. He almost embarrassed the crowd with his hollering: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Jesus sent for him. “What do you want me to do for you?” Same question. Different answer: “Rabbi, I want to see.” Honestly, what did the blind man believe Jesus could do about his blindness? What do we believe God can do for us?

                Greg Levoy wrote in his book Callings, “You don’t want an answer you can put in a box and set on a shelf. You want a question that will become a chariot to carry you across the breadth of your life.” Let’s keep on thinking about this. No easy, quick answer. Jesus is not a genie who has to do what we say. But he loves us more than we love ourselves. What do you want God to do for you? Tell him. Who knows what he might do?

Pray with me:

Father, we praise you in your omnipotence. Nothing is too difficult for you. Thank you for not always giving us what we want. We know you want the very best for our lives. Teach us to want what you want for us. Open our eyes Lord. We want to see Jesus and follow him for a life-time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download
the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane

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