What Do You Want Me to Do for You? | When Jesus Asks the Question, Part 5
Key Truth | Jesus invites us to bring our deepest desires honestly before Him while trusting Him to shape our hearts and help us release what no longer belongs in the life He's leading us toward.
Key Scripture | “So Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’” — Mark 10:51 NKJV
Some questions Jesus asked seem almost unnecessary.
Bartimaeus was blind. He was sitting beside the road begging when he heard Jesus was passing by. He began crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd told him to be quiet, but he only cried louder.
Jesus stopped and called for him. Then He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The answer seems obvious. Jesus could see that Bartimaeus was blind, yet He still asked him to name what he wanted: “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
There is something powerful about being able to name our desires.
Sometimes we don’t name what we want because we’re afraid it sounds selfish or unspiritual. But sometimes I wonder if we simply haven’t slowed down long enough to know.
Life gets filled with responsibilities, expectations, problems to solve and people who need something from us. We know what needs to happen next. We know what everyone else needs. We usually know what we don’t want anymore.
But if Jesus stopped us and asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” would we know how to answer?
Maybe part of spiritual health is becoming quiet enough before God to recognize what is really happening inside us. Not every desire should lead us, but bringing our desires honestly into His presence gives Him room to shape, redirect or fulfill them according to His will.
There is another detail in this story I can’t get away from. When Jesus called Bartimaeus, Scripture says he threw aside his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
That garment belonged to the life he had known. Before Bartimaeus could see, he was already willing to leave something behind.
Which makes me wonder:
If Jesus gave you what you’re asking for, would you be willing to release the identity of your past?
We can become so accustomed to surviving something that we don’t realize how much it has shaped us. We ask God for something new while still holding tightly to what helped us survive the old.
Bartimaeus threw down the garment before he could see.
Maybe faith isn’t only believing Jesus can give us something new. Maybe it’s also trusting Him enough to put down what we won’t need where He’s taking us.
So don’t rush past His question. Sit with it long enough to know your answer.
What do you want Me to do for you?
And then maybe the harder question:
If He did it, what would you need to let go of?
Reflection
Prayer | Jesus, slow me down enough to recognize what is really happening inside me. Help me honestly name my desires and trust You with them. Shape what needs shaping, and if You lead me into something new, give me the courage to put down what I no longer need to carry. Amen.
Go Deeper
Mark 10:46–52
Psalm 139:23–24
Psalm 37:4–5
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 4:22–24
The Echo | Jesus doesn’t ask questions because He needs answers. He asks questions because we do.
Key Scripture | “So Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’” — Mark 10:51 NKJV
Some questions Jesus asked seem almost unnecessary.
Bartimaeus was blind. He was sitting beside the road begging when he heard Jesus was passing by. He began crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd told him to be quiet, but he only cried louder.
Jesus stopped and called for him. Then He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The answer seems obvious. Jesus could see that Bartimaeus was blind, yet He still asked him to name what he wanted: “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
There is something powerful about being able to name our desires.
Sometimes we don’t name what we want because we’re afraid it sounds selfish or unspiritual. But sometimes I wonder if we simply haven’t slowed down long enough to know.
Life gets filled with responsibilities, expectations, problems to solve and people who need something from us. We know what needs to happen next. We know what everyone else needs. We usually know what we don’t want anymore.
But if Jesus stopped us and asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” would we know how to answer?
Maybe part of spiritual health is becoming quiet enough before God to recognize what is really happening inside us. Not every desire should lead us, but bringing our desires honestly into His presence gives Him room to shape, redirect or fulfill them according to His will.
There is another detail in this story I can’t get away from. When Jesus called Bartimaeus, Scripture says he threw aside his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
That garment belonged to the life he had known. Before Bartimaeus could see, he was already willing to leave something behind.
Which makes me wonder:
If Jesus gave you what you’re asking for, would you be willing to release the identity of your past?
We can become so accustomed to surviving something that we don’t realize how much it has shaped us. We ask God for something new while still holding tightly to what helped us survive the old.
Bartimaeus threw down the garment before he could see.
Maybe faith isn’t only believing Jesus can give us something new. Maybe it’s also trusting Him enough to put down what we won’t need where He’s taking us.
So don’t rush past His question. Sit with it long enough to know your answer.
What do you want Me to do for you?
And then maybe the harder question:
If He did it, what would you need to let go of?
Reflection
- Have I slowed down long enough to know what I actually want from Jesus in this season?
- If He answered that prayer, what might I need to leave behind?
Prayer | Jesus, slow me down enough to recognize what is really happening inside me. Help me honestly name my desires and trust You with them. Shape what needs shaping, and if You lead me into something new, give me the courage to put down what I no longer need to carry. Amen.
Go Deeper
Mark 10:46–52
Psalm 139:23–24
Psalm 37:4–5
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 4:22–24
The Echo | Jesus doesn’t ask questions because He needs answers. He asks questions because we do.
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
No Comments