"Leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus. Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!' The crowd told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!' Jesus stopped and asked them, 'What do you want me to do for you?' They told him, 'Lord, we want to be able to see again.' Jesus had compassion for them, so he touched their eyes and their sight was restored at once. Then they followed him."
It seemed like a foolish question for Jesus to ask. The two men were blind. What else would they want but to be able to see again? As always, in the stories we read about Jesus and his encounter with people, there is a lesson to be learned. But what is the lesson the blind men needed to learn and what lesson can we learn as well?
When the blind men cried out to Jesus, they merely said, "Lord, have mercy on us." But what did that mean? Their question was so general and vague. They could have meant anything by asking for Jesus' mercy. Of course Jesus knew what they wanted. It was obvious. But he wanted them to be specific, that is, to make a definite request: "Lord, we want to be able to see again."
The lesson for us is that whatever we come to the Lord in prayer, the first thing he asks of us is, "What do you want me to do for you?" Of course Jesus already knows what we want before we even ask. He understands our need. It isn't necessary that we pass on to him any other information than what it is we specifically want. It isn't enough to say, "Lord I need your help." Jesus already knows that. To simply ask for help is a vague request. What we must do is be specific; we must pinpoint the need.
Pilots in the air force are able to pinpoint a target from a very high altitude and drop their bombs precisely where needed. That's called "precision bombing." Well, Jesus specializes in "precision blessing." When we specify our particular need, he can zero in on that need and provide us with his grace and help to face and deal with any problem or concern or need that we have. Though our prayers may not be answered in the way we would like, they will be answered. God doesn't listen to our prayers and then discard them. He listens and he acts - that you can be sure of!
It seemed like a foolish question for Jesus to ask. The two men were blind. What else would they want but to be able to see again? As always, in the stories we read about Jesus and his encounter with people, there is a lesson to be learned. But what is the lesson the blind men needed to learn and what lesson can we learn as well?
When the blind men cried out to Jesus, they merely said, "Lord, have mercy on us." But what did that mean? Their question was so general and vague. They could have meant anything by asking for Jesus' mercy. Of course Jesus knew what they wanted. It was obvious. But he wanted them to be specific, that is, to make a definite request: "Lord, we want to be able to see again."
The lesson for us is that whatever we come to the Lord in prayer, the first thing he asks of us is, "What do you want me to do for you?" Of course Jesus already knows what we want before we even ask. He understands our need. It isn't necessary that we pass on to him any other information than what it is we specifically want. It isn't enough to say, "Lord I need your help." Jesus already knows that. To simply ask for help is a vague request. What we must do is be specific; we must pinpoint the need.
Pilots in the air force are able to pinpoint a target from a very high altitude and drop their bombs precisely where needed. That's called "precision bombing." Well, Jesus specializes in "precision blessing." When we specify our particular need, he can zero in on that need and provide us with his grace and help to face and deal with any problem or concern or need that we have. Though our prayers may not be answered in the way we would like, they will be answered. God doesn't listen to our prayers and then discard them. He listens and he acts - that you can be sure of!
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