At St. Paul’s, Nobleton, we have a small group discussing a video series by Ruth Haley Barton entitled Sacred Rhythms, based on her book of the same title. In last
night’s introductory study, we looked at the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10.46-52. In it, Jesus asks a deeply probing question: “What do you want me to do for you?” (v. 51).
Most of the time, when we read Scripture, we read it to gather information. Yet we can read Scripture to shape our lives. As I’ve been known to say, information fills the mind, but formation shapes the person. We can read the story of Bartimaeus to learn about the plight of the blind in the first century, and we can read it to place ourselves in the story, even opening ourselves to have Jesus ask us, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Have you ever considered that? Have you ever opened yourself to express your deepest desires to Jesus?
Because Jesus is God, he already knows our deepest desires, but there is something powerful, something intimate, about expressing them ourselves. It’s like telling our spouse what we want to experience sexually – it’s that intimate, and arguably more so.
Perhaps that can be, today, your entry point into a more intimate relationship with the Lord. Sit quietly as you ponder what you most want from the Lord. Take time to tell him your deepest desires. Allow yourself to be shaped by the Holy Spirit as you express them.
Why not do it right now?
Dr. Jeff Loach is Pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Nobleton, ON. He blogs at http://www.passionatelyhis.com/.
