Read Mark 10:35-45
What Do You Ask God To Do For You?
James and John came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Jesus responded, “What do you want me to do for you?” James and John responded that when Jesus sits in glory that they wanted to sit on his right and his left.
Great question that James and John asked. What were their motives? Were they just that much in love with Jesus, or were they being a little arrogant? And what was their attitude when they said we want you to do whatever we ask!
Sometimes I feel like we expect God to do whatever we ask because we’re selfish people versus doing what he wants because his plan is better.
The other disciples definitely took it as being arrogant and they were indignant towards them. Jesus’s response to their question came in two parts:
1. Were they willing to commit to the calling of the Lord even to the point of suffering, and if necessary even dying for him?
2. That if they wanted to be great for the Lord they have to have a servant’s heart. In fact, Jesus went on to say, “whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all.” Obviously, Jesus wasn’t condoning slavery but admired how much of a servant slaves were, and if we could put that much energy in how we served others, then we’d impact a lot of lives.
If Jesus asked what do you want me to do for you, how would you respond?
Something I have been praying for, off and on, for quite some time, is that I want to be like Stephen and Barnabas in the Bible.
1. Acts 7:60 says, “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s Grace and Power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” I want to have an impact on people’s lives like Stephen did. Something I hear the Lord saying, is, are you willing to die for me? I am willing to die for the Lord, but I admit, I pray that if God calls me to that then I need his grace to help me sustain the death.
2. 2 Corinthians 11:24 says, “Barnabas was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” That’s my heart’s desire. I want God to use me to help bring people to the Lord.
I think it is within us to want to be great at something: sports, with relationships, our job, singing, etc. The bottom line I’ve learned from this passage when it comes to being great for the Lord is:
1. Have a humble and servants’ heart. It should not always be about us, but about God and others.
2. Be willing to suffer and even die for the cause of Christ.
What would you like the Lord to do for you? Is your motive and emphasis all about you or about the Lord and others?
