Petoskey United Methodist Church
Weekly Devotional

May 6, 2008
By Jo Snedden

“What Do You Want Me To Do For You?”

Matthew 20:29-34  "As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.  Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  Jesus stopped and called them.  “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”  Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.  Immediately they received their sight and followed him."

Isn’t it interesting that the blind men knew who Jesus was and the very men who walked and lived with him, had not seen this?  They were so caught up with their celebrity, their perceived mission, crowd control, and whatever else, that they were not hearing (understanding) the stories that Jesus had been revealing to them as he was predicting his own heart wrenching impending death. 

Scripture Union meditations noted that “Seeing with your eyes doesn’t guarantee seeing with your heart.  Seeing with your heart opens your eyes.”  They ask the question, “In what ways are your eyes open to see and meet the needs of those around you?”  The crowd certainly showed no concern for the blind men.  Would I have been one in that crowd shushing those who don’t seem to fit in the plan?

Urgent persistent petitions remain a key aspect of living faith.  These blind men were persistent!  They would not quiet down even when warned.  Too many of us grow impatient waiting for answers for our petitions and when answers don’t come soon enough, become discouraged and drop our prayers.  For some of us, life may be so good and easy that we are not feeling the need to be persistent in petitioning God.  Are we easily shushed?  Do we give up easily?

Another question I saw and pondered was, “What do you want me to do for you?”  If Jesus asked that question of me…..

                  What would my answer be?

                  What would my answer reveal about me?

                  Would I be persistent in my petitions relying on God’s compassion and timing?

When I think on these questions, I realize that we have the privilege of hind sight to guide us and yet like the disciples and the crowd, we can get so caught up in life.  How I pray that whatever we will ask will fall into the plan that He has for our lives and that our petitions will bring glory to the Father.

 Scripture Union’s prayer:  “Lord, open my eyes to see Your greatness and open my heart to receive Your love and forgiveness.  Lord, open my eyes to see the needs of those around me and open my heart and my hands to meet those needs.  Make me Your instrument of blessing.”    Amen and Amen!

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