What's On Your List?
Posted on July 7, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” – Mark 10:51a
Every once in a while, my wife will ask me to come food shopping with her. Upon entering the store, there are two different mindsets: hers, list in hand and on a mission to get what she came for, and mine, just wandering around looking for “who knows what?” Sometimes an employee of the store will inquire, “Can I help you?” My response is usually, “No thanks, just looking”. The outcome is my wife having received everything she came for and I, nonsense.
One of the most valuable benefits of our relationship with Jesus is that He wants us to come to Him with our needs and desires. How foolish it is when I am struggling with the issues of life and have a Heavenly Father who loves me and wants to comfort me, but instead I walk around window shopping, unprepared to come to Him with my burdens?
I guess for me the real issue is do I know what I need? Am I prepared to come to Him with the real issues in my life? My wife and I will meet up at the register and she’ll have the essentials in her basket, mine are usually comfort foods which, after consideration, are put back on the shelf.
There was a time in my life when I was desperate for a healing and I came to Jesus with a “shopping list” full of needs. In my crying out to Him, I could imagine Him asking me, “What do you want Me to do for you?” That began a process of healing of my soul that has forever caused me to be grateful and devoted to my Savior.
There are two occasions in Mark 10 where Jesus asks the question, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The first time is the inquiry of James and John, their answer was, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” The second was blind Bartimaeus, his response was, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Which one do we need and which one is the comfort food? I know there are times where we can come to God with our frivolous requests and desires, but I believe Jesus wants to cure our blindness first, and then we will see clear to ask what we really need. James tells us in an extreme case concerning our selfishness but I think it still applies, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (4:3).
So, maybe today God wants us to bring Him our shopping list of true needs, the issues that cause us pain and grief. Jesus says, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Amen!
Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.
The Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 13-18| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “Whoever will labor to get rid of self, to deny himself according to the instructions of Christ, strikes at once at the root of every evil, and finds the germ of every good.” – Francois Fenelon
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:1
Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
