What do we want?  We can only answer Jesus’ question, “what do you want me to do for you?” when know what we want. We can only know what we want when we know what we need according to the word of God. It is so easy to think we know what we want or need according to our own planning or imagination. When we arrive at the place we think we were going we are unfulfilled because we didn’t identify our greatest want or need according to God’s word and work.

Here are two examples of Jesus asking, “what do you want me to do for you?”  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." ³⁶And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" ³⁷And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." ³⁸Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.” Mark 10:35-38

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." ⁵²And 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 10:51-52

The first scenario was a demand for power and was not in line with Jesus’ word and work – he didn’t come to build a kingdom of power and glory. The second scenario was in line with Jesus word and work. Jesus’ life was the kingdom of God – he came to save, to heal, to restore, to comfort, to make holy, to re-create, to forgive, and to free.

The purpose of his word and work is to save, to heal, to restore, to comfort, to make holy, to re-create, to forgive, and to free. So, Jesus’ question looms large: “what do you want me to do for you?” Jesus, I want my wants to match up with my greatest needs. Jesus, I want you to teach me what I need. Jesus, I want you to teach me how to beg you with confidence for what I need. Jesus, I know I have a saved, clean, holy heart, but I want those facts that I know in my brain to touch my heart and soul. Jesus, I want to learn to love myself so I can love those around me. Jesus, I want to stop trying to change other people to fit into the box I’ve created for them. Jesus, I want a free heart and soul and mind and spirit and body. Jesus, I want to focus on what you know I need from you; I want to focus on your holy life. Jesus, I want my will to stop fighting your will. Jesus, I want the Christ of Christmas to be Lord of my heart and soul and mind.

Whew, that’s a start.  Jesus, I want wisdom to run a family business. Jesus, I want compassion for those who don’t know you. Jesus, I want to be free from overindulgence. Jesus, I want a healthy marriage and home. Jesus, I want to live in freedom not fear.

God’s word calls us to identify those areas in life (mind, body, soul, heart and spirit) which are unhealthy, unholy ways of seeking what we have believed we wanted or needed. He calls us to allow his word to NEWK-IT! out of our lives because we don’t need IT! God’s word calls us to identify what we want according to the word and work of God and beg him into our needs and wants.

May God grant us courage to take a deep look at what we want him to do for us. May God grant us boldness ask, then to proclaim God’s word and work in us. May his peace guard our hearts and lives. Blessings IN Christ, Cindy

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