In Mark chapter 10, Jesus asks the same question in two different circumstances. Jesus asks two of his closest followers James and John, "What do you want me to do for you?" Just moments later he asks a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus "What do you want me to do for you?"
James and John respond to this question with a request for fame, power, and the desire to be noticed (Mark 10:37).
Bartimaeus responds to this question by asking for sight (Mark 10:51).
Bartimaeus threw off his cloak which was most likely his only possession to experience Jesus, and once Jesus healed him he began to follow Jesus. Bartimaeus was willing to give up everything (his cloak) to follow Jesus. James and John wanted everything for following Jesus. Once Bartimaeus was set free from being blind be began to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you are set free you can't help but want to tell others.
James and John wanted fame. When you live for fame you will continually be enslaved to the expectations of others. Fame is not necessarily a bad thing, but fame for the sake of fame always leads to a dark place.
Don't pursue fame. Pursue freedom. When you find freedom in the only who can set you free your life will begin to tell a New Story of freedom. When we are set free spiritually we cannot help but desire for others to experience that freedom.
For more on what it means to be set free, check out our message from this past Sunday.
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We meet every Sunday @3200 elmwood ave. 9 & 10:30am.
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