Written by Mark Driskill:
March 28, 2011
Believe Again
If Jesus were to walk up to you right now, look you straight in the eye and ask you, “What do you want me to do for you?” How would you respond? I have begun asking people this question in prayer meetings. The answers are usually pretty interesting. Usually people respond in one of three ways.
Some just stare at me nervously and say nothing. For some inexplicable reason they just can’t bring themselves to ask for anything. It may be that life has beaten all the hope out of them and they just don’t expect it will do any good. They are afraid to try so they just stare off into the emptiness refusing to reach out for anything. Or they may have plenty of faith but they are afraid God may just answer and then the life they are used to would change. So they choose to stay in the cocoon of misery rather than risk anything new. There is no one more dead than someone who refuses to live. How sad.
Then there are the religious responses. This may be the largest group. They like to avoid Jesus by hiding behind religious clichés and empty generalizations. They often put on a religious face and say something like, “Oh I’d ask him to help all the people in the world.” (He’s already working on that) or “If God wants me to have something he will do it.” ( But James says you have not because you ask not.) Or they just say something religious like “I want him to do his will for his glory.” He’s already working on that but he is asking you what he can do for you specifically. Give up this religious game. It is getting you nowhere and God is not impressed.
But every now and then someone emerges from the rubble of pat phrases and pious pretenses and actually gets down to the business of faith. They push aside all the games of avoidance and get serious about calling on God. They do what the blind man on the side of the road did when Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” If you read the story in Luke 18:35-43 you see what happened. The poor blind man said simply and clearly, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” His answer was Personal, Specific, Clear and Full of Faith. No games with this guy. He had the sense to know that when the holy one comes to you and offers you a hand you don’t slap it away.
You step up to the plate of faith and call out to God. He didn’t buy into the lie that God wants us all sitting by the road of life in our need pretending we don’t want anything. He doesn’t think we are being selfish when we ask for help. On the contrary the most selfish person is the one who refuses to be helped so they can sit around in pious misery while everyone admires them for their “humility”. Jesus did not go to the cross enduring such horrible shame so you could refuse what he won for you at Calvary.
Right now as you sit by the side of the road in your own need Jesus is walking up to you and asking, “What do you want me to do for you?” How will you respond?
Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy.
Mark is web minister for Begotten by theWord , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources.
Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program. Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
