“What do you want me to do for you?” Luke 18:41
I’ve been reading through Luke’s gospel this summer and today came across this question by Jesus to a blind man. The context makes it pretty clear why the man came to Jesus so it caught my attention that Jesus actually asked him the question. Jesus doesn’t ask that question in other healing stories.
“What do you want me to do for you?”
I’ve been thinking about that question today. My first responses ranged from family concerns to “your kingdom come.” I also got focused on work issues and thought about what did I want to see happen in the various fellowships etc. I think I was reacting to the question as though I had obtained Aladdin’s lamp and needed to make sure I got the three best choices!
“What do you want me to do for you?”
Soon the “…for you?” became my focus. We are certainly called to pray for God’s kingdom to come and wanting the best for the fellowships is fine, but there is a personal tone to this question. “What do you want me to do for you?” What do I really want God to do in my life? Not in my family, not in my work, not in the world...but in me.
“What do you want me to do for you?”
It’s mid-afternoon now and I’m still working with question. The opening prayer in the Episcopal worship service comes to mind:
“…cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
…that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name.”
A clean heart would be good.
The closing prayer of the service also is also impressing itself on me:
“…Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart.”
Strength, courage and joy would be good too.
How about you. How do you respond to Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Maybe we aren’t even limited to just three wishes either!
This question never ceases to grab my attention and your focus on the "for you" part has often been tricky - so much of our life is tied up in other lives, so that in one sense, what Jesus might do for "the least of these" - or my favorite of them - he has done it unto me.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Bill, and certainly food for thought. What do I want in my life? What are my values? My priorities, goals, desires? How do these tie in with my faith, my calling? Or is it the other way around? How will I know what I want Jesus to do for me if I do not know what I want myself? Still ruminating... Thanks for posting!
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