"What do you want me to do for you?"
--Luke 18:41
A blind beggar with no status, no means and no hope screams for Jesus' attention. He won't shut up, even though some who think they have the right, try to shut him up.
He is making everyone uncomfortable. Everyone, that is, except Jesus.
Now the blind man stands before Jesus, and is asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" It seems obvious, doesn't it? (Paraphrasing now) "I want to see!" Jesus: "OK… see."
What if God asked you the question; "What do you want me to do for you?" How would you answer? Not genie-in-the-bottle stuff. Not lotteries and looks. What are your deep needs? What is your deepest need… hurt… desire?
Jesus again, "… your faith has made you well." We get a warped sense of faith from some celebrity preachers. The blind man's belief THAT he could see didn't give him sight. He could believe all day that he possessed sight; and still be blind. Biblical faith is not just belief. It is belief "IN". Belief in a person. His name is Jesus.
Notice that the (formerly) blind man, when hearing Jesus was approaching, "…cried out…," and then, "… cried out all the more..." (vv38,39) When deep need mixes with faith it cries out all the more.
Chapter 18 begins, "And he (Jesus) told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." In other words, mix need and faith and cry out all the more.
Sorry, this is getting long. So let me just ask: What if God IS asking you this question? Right now! "What do you want me to do for you?" What will be your answer?
God, I'm blind, I want to see!
For now...
D
