What do you want?


Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
John 1:38a
One of the most important questions we can answer as Christ's disciples is the one He asked His first disciples, "What do you want?"

Have you ever thought about the question? Have you ever thought about your answer?

Responding spiritually, we might answer that we want heaven. Or, to bear spiritual fruit like peace, joy, or self-control!

But if pressed, we might answer that we just want our kids to get along or for the ability to have children.  Or, for our bosses to lighten up a little and extend some grace - maybe even a job that pays the bills.  Or, for a loving wife or husband. Or, to have a friend that will love us no matter what.  Or, for a loved one to be healed from cancer or another debilitating (or fatal) disease.

All of these answers, if honest, are real and Christ knows them already for He knows our hearts.

So, how did His disciples answer the question? They didn't, exactly.

They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
"Come," He replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. John 1:38b-39a
They just wanted to spend time with Jesus.  With all that might have been going on in their lives, with all of their real needs and natural desires, they simply wanted to spend time with Him.

One might say that they were desperate for Jesus. Because His Name means, "salvation of God (YHWH)", maybe they were desperate for the salvation that only God can offer us, His Son, Jesus.

What do I want?  Transparently, like all of us, I have many physical and spiritual (and selfish) wants and, as I write this, they are swirling around my heart and mind.

But, I WANT to be desperate for Jesus.  I WANT for my family, His church and me to be desperate for Him.  To be so desperate that those around us are forever changed because of it.  More specifically, that the over 200,000 people in Stark County who do not claim Christ would claim Him and be forever changed.

That's what I want.  Sounds desperate? Good.
Jesus says, "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." John 15:7

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