By: Pastor Rick Smith

And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” Mark 10:51 ESV

What a wonderful question for our Lord to ask.  “What do you want me to do for you?” We are so hesitant to pray and to pray boldly, but Jesus invites such prayers.  “What do you want me to do for you?”  We think that we are unworthy to ask such as we want – and we are right.  We don’t deserve to have Jesus answer any of our prayers.  We are sinners deserving of His judgment.  But Jesus gives us grace, and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” He invites you and I to be bold in our prayer, to ask our hearts desire. 

But what if we ask for the wrong things?  Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The blind man’s answer was precious.  “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”  And, what did Jesus do?   “And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’”  And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.” (Mark 10:52).   Yet, earlier in this chapter, James and John asked to sit on Jesus’ right and left in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-40).  They answered the same question, but got a different answer from Jesus.  What shall we do?  Ask and let the Lord determine the answer. 

I want you to think of all that you would ask in answer to Jesus’ question.  “What do you want me to do for you?”  Both the requests of the blind man and James and John could be considered selfish questions.  Jesus answered the one and gave a different answer to the other.  What we request could reveal something about ourselves that we may not like. That is not a bad thing.  It helps us to line up our lives under the lordship of Christ.  It gives us an opportunity to confess and repent.  It brings light to an area of darkness in our lives.  Besides, the answer no is not a bad answer.  It is not bad to hear the Lord say, “Not not.  Later.”  Yes is an answer that we may want to hear, but no, later, or not now may be the best answer.  Remember Jesus is Lord! 

But I want you to think of a reverse question.  That question comes from us.  Paul gave us the example to follow and it is always right to ask.  Ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6 NKJV).  Then do what Jesus says to do. 

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday.   Worship at 10:50 A.M.  We are located at 711 West Washington Ave.  Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541.  Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

Rick Smith is the Pastor at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Artesia.