Today you should read: Mark 10:32-52
In todays passage, we read about two requests made of Jesus. Jesus and His disciples are walking to Jerusalem. The conversation left them filled with awe, while the people following behind were overwhelmed by fear (v.32). Jesus told them once again of His impending death – how He would be betrayed, sentenced to die, mocked, spit on, whipped and killed – and that He would rise again three days later.
Immediately following this, James and John make a request of Jesus – to sit on His right and on His left in Jesus’ kingdom. This made the other disciples upset (v.41).
When they arrived at Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting alongside the road. He made the second request that day – he began crying out to Jesus to be healed – to see.
Two requests made in one day of the One who is able to grant them.
The first appears to be motivated by selfish intentions – the second by desperate ones. The first invoked anger by others – the second concern. The second was granted by Jesus – but not the first.
What does these teach us about making requests to God?
- We must ask in His Name.
If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:14
- We must have proper motives.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3
- We must ask in faith – believing God will do it.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6-7
- Power comes when our lives reflect the Kingdom.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16b
We serve a powerful – able – God! Ask big things today – and believe that He will answer!
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 