2010 is drawing to an end and 2011 is already showing up at the horizon. As usual, many of us will sit and think about all the wishes we had expressed at the same time last year, some of us with satisfaction, some others with a hint of sadness.
Even if it is just an unavoidable ritual to some, end of year wishes are generally a way to pray that the divine providence would grant a favor or two, to those to whom they are intended. And most of the time, we also wish the same for us.
One day that Jesus was on His way to Jericho, He was stopped by the desperate cries of a blind beggar who would not let anyone calm him down: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! " Jesus said to him: "What do you want me to do for you? " and the blind man answered, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." (Mark 10:47,48-51)
What would your answer be, if the Lord were to ask you today, what you would like Him to do for you in 2011?
The Bible declares that, “The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.” (Matthew 10:41).
At Christmas, I invited us to ask ourselves the question of who is Jesus for us, and to respond to it accordingly. If the Jesus you know is just a prophet, He will reward you as a prophet in 2011. If your Jesus is just a healer, you will receive the healer’s reward. If He is only a great Master, you will get the Master’s reward. But I do hope He is a lot more than just that to you…
However, although it is not bad to ask., especially to He who said: ‘‘Ask, and it will be given to you…for everyone who asks receives…’’, why not do things differently this time?
And what if, for a change, we don’t come to God with the list of all our desiderata, but bring Him instead, the list of what we would like to do for Him in 2011, only begging to be granted the grace and the strength to accomplish them? If there is more blessed to give than to receive, it is also more blessed to give to God than to receive from Him. What if the Lord is also expecting something from us? Paul, the apostle, dared asking Him the question:
“Both trembling and being astonished he said, Lord, what do You desire me to do? And the Lord said to him, Rise up and go into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” (Acts 9:6, LITV)
He had his personal agenda and was en route to Damascus to execute it when God brutally stopped him. After realizing what the Lord wanted, he agreed to change his plans.
God doesn’t have to arrest us so dramatically, to finally care about what He desire for us. 2011 is a tremendous opportunity to take the lead: let’s grab it.
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Happy New Year, 2011
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