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Articles by Jackie Perry

Questions: Do you believe I can do this?

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Whether talking with the disciples, speaking in a public forum, or defending Himself before His enemies, Jesus consistently asked questions.  In the four gospels, Jesus asked over 300 questions.

 

Do you believe I can do this?

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”  When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. 

Matthew 9:27-30

wednesday_39494579_SWhen I was a kid, I loved watching magicians at work. The card tricks, birds popping out of hats and handkerchiefs pulled out of ears absolutely amazed me. In a category of their own, however, were the illusionists. Their tricks far superseded ordinary magic tricks. Guys like David Copperfield, David Blaine and Siegfried and Roy would cause large items to appear or disappear.

Half the time I watched their shows because I didn’t think they could really pull it off. How in the world could a person make an elephant or the Statue of Liberty disappear? But, somehow, right before my eyes, these gifted entertainers convinced me that for a moment these huge things actually vanished.

For many people who lived during Jesus’ day, Jesus was just a trickster, illusionist or even a sorcerer of sorts. They couldn’t understand how He could perform miracles. They had heard that He was healing people and making the impossible happen while others watched. Because they wanted to see for themselves, many people were following Him around just so they could see “the show.”

In today’s passage, when Jesus is approached by two blind men, He asks them, “Do you believe I can do this?” The question will reveal the status of their hearts. Were they wanting a trick or were they trusting in God and His ability? Their answer, “Yes, Lord,” tells Him exactly what He wants to know. They believed He was capable but the “Lord” told Jesus why they believed: they had faith in Jesus’ claim as well as in His ability. Jesus allowed the world to appear before their eyes.

What a great reminder to us. Having seen and heard many amazing things that God has done in my life and in the lives of those around me, I can easily say that I believe He is able to do anything. As a result, I can flood my prayers with requests, knowing He can easily answer them if He so desires.

Sadly, I don’t always allow myself to reflect on the reason why I believe He is able. First, and foremost, He is Lord. In every way possible, I must yield to Him. His plan. His ways. His timing. Because, He is Lord. I don’t think we can ever let that truth simmer too long in our hearts. It is so foundational to the reason we can actually go to Him and ask Him whatever we want.

Today, take a moment to reflect on whether you believe He can actually do what you asked Him to do yesterday? Like kids watching a great magician at work, we can overly focus on what we see. God invites us to be like these blind men who heard about the Lord, surrendered to Him and then sought His help. I believe He wants our eyes forever fixed on His position as the Lord of our lives before we lay our requests before Him. Because He is God, He is able.

Jackie

Questions: What do you want me to do for you?

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Whether talking with the disciples, speaking in a public forum, or defending Himself before His enemies, Jesus consistently asked questions.  In the four gospels, Jesus asked over 300 questions.

 

What do you want me to do for you?

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 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.” And 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 10:46-52

tuesday_76827252_SWhen my kids were young toddlers, they often used temper tantrums to communicate their needs. Some days I was very patient and slowly figured out what they wanted or needed. On other days, their fits triggered something awful within me. After nothing seemed to quell their emotional state, I would bark something like, “I have no idea what you want from me!” Eventually, I would settle down and realize that they were wet or sleepy or hungry or sometimes on the verge of being physically sick. Their complete dependence upon me led them to come to me with their wants, even if they couldn’t utter them in words, just yet.

In Mark’s account, we find a man who knows that he cannot give himself what he most wants. When he hears that Jesus is walking by, he cries out to be heard by Him. I find it fascinating that even though Jesus already knows what this man needs, he asks Bartimaeus to state his request anyway. “Let me recover my sight,” he says to Jesus. In doing so, Bartimaues is forced to acknowledge his need as well as his faith in Jesus to satisfy it. Immediately, he is healed.

How many times do we remain silent before God instead of specifically asking Him for what we need? I know I sometimes do this because I am certain that he already knows what I need. Why do I need to ask Him out loud, if He already knows? I think to myself. But, like dependent children who may or may not be able to clearly communicate what we need, God invites us to identify and articulate what we need before Him and to trust that He can actually satisfy it.

Sometimes—like a little kid with arms crossed, head down, and heels dug in, I just don’t want to tell him what I want. What if He doesn’t want to give me what I want? If I don’t ask for it, then I protect my heart from having to hear what I hope to receive. While I may fool myself into saying that I am trusting Him for what is best, in actuality it is my pride that is keeping me from repeatedly returning to my God and humbly asking Him again and again. We are dependent upon the Father for all of our needs, whether we are willing to make a request to Him or not.

What do you want me to do for you? He is asking you this question right now. Speak out your needs to the Father even though He already knows your answer. And, then like Bartimaeus, walk away believing that He will always give you just what you need, even if it isn’t exactly what you had requested. Don’t you think that sometimes He is dying to give you what you want but is waiting for you to demonstrate your dependence by humbly coming before Him to present your requests? Find the words and tell him what you need.

Jackie

Questions: What are you looking for?

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Whether talking with the disciples, speaking in a public forum, or defending Himself before His enemies, Jesus consistently asked questions.  In the four gospels, Jesus asked over 300 questions.

 

What are you looking for?

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.  One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

John 1:35-41

Monday_75167740_SOften I read a passage and can vividly insert myself into the scene. This particular story in John paints a familiar picture to me. Jesus walks by John the Baptist and two of his disciples and John shouts, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two who are with him immediately begin to follow after Jesus. We don’t really know if they are compelled by curiosity or instantly know in their spirit that He is the Messiah.

Regardless of the reason, Jesus sees that they are walking behind Him and gently asks them one simple question: “What are you seeking?” He isn’t scolding or rejecting or scoffing at them in any way. Instead, He invites them to stop and consider what they are after.

Their response is classic, and it’s why I can most relate to the scene. Instead of answering the question, they deflect it by asking Jesus a question. “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Even though Jesus is fully aware that they completely overlooked His question, He keeps them engaged by inviting them to continue on the journey with Him. He already knows that what they are looking for will not be found in where He is actually going but rather in what they will discover about Him and about themselves as they spend more time with Him.

Many days I have heard the Lord whisper this same question to me as I busily move from one task to another, fretting about something or someone, yet refusing to stop and consider what I am doing. “What are you looking for, Jackie?” He asks quietly.

I don’t always know the answer to that question. Like the disciples I am tempted to just ask Him another. But, when I take some time, I often want the same thing that I think they wanted. A deep, abiding relationship with God. Peace. Rest. Joy. The day-to-day struggles can keep these longings buried if I let them.

What about you? For just a minute, imagine Jesus turning toward you to ask you this same question. If you don’t know what you would say, then consider what you are busy doing. Our actions tell us so much about what we really want. Tune into your thoughts. Our mental dialogue and the things that take up so much space in our heads often reveal our deepest desires. Lastly, become aware of how you are feeling both emotionally and physically, even now as you read this. Our emotions and physical state are greatly impacted by what we hold in our minds and by what we are doing with our hands.

Together, these typically reveal something about our deepest desires. Jesus invited the disciples to “Come and see” by allowing them to journey with Him. He invites us to do the same. When we seek Him by spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word, we will ultimately find what we are really looking for.

Jackie