What Can I Do for You?

In many ways, I find myself in both a season of my greatest fulfillment and my greatest need. 

In my conversations with the Lord, I am often rather “needy.”  Today, as I talked with Him, I was deeply aware that I know so little of what I truly need.

I envisioned this scene.

A king comes to you in all of his splendor.  He is dressed in royal robes. He is accompanied by a great entourage. He stoops to sit down next to you. Looking you in the eyes – as you’re stunned both by the beauty of his adornment and the kindness of his gesture – he asks you one question: What can I do for you?

I don’t know if I’m able to appropriately paint with words the picture of this moment in my mind’s eye. 

I am speechless.

What will my response be? How do I answer this question from a King in all of his splendor? How would I know of what to ask?

Our worlds are so vastly different.

My mind is flooded with “needs and wants.” But I know, in this moment, everything I can think of is far too small a request. In the presence of such royalty is an acute awareness of how little I have to offer, and how much less I know of even what to ask.

I am overwhelmed by the reality of his presence. Here, with me. That he has stopped to sit with me. 

There can only be one response to his question. It is an invitation.

“Can I sit with you?  Will you take me to where you live?”

It begins to make sense to me that this is the disciples’ response when Jesus asks them “what do you want?” And they respond “show me where you live!” (John 1) Or when Jesus stops to ask blind Bartimaeus “what do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus asks for his sight and then he follows Jesus.

In the presence of this king, at the beckoning of his request to give me whatever I want, it becomes clear that I want to simply be in his company. I want to identify with him. I want to learn from him, to be with him.

It’s odd. We would think that our response to the million-dollar “what do you want” question would be – as our prayers often are – the list of things that we need or want.

But, that is not so. In the presence of royalty, you realize both your privilege and your desire is for more of this sense of worth imputed to you, simply by the permission to be in their presence.

When you meet with Royal Jesus, and he stoops down to sit with you where you are – and seeing him in all of his splendor, he asks:  “What can I do for you?”

I guarantee our only response will be – “Let me see where you live. Let me sit with you. Your presence is what I desire. Give me more of your presence.” 

The gift of unmerited, unhindered, perpetual access to His presence is what our thirsty souls desire. 

Like the disciples did when he called them to follow him, we too ask: Can I come sit at your feet? Can I dwell in your home? Can I be with you?

This is our royal response to a royal invitation.

At his yes, we hear our own soul’s yearning response: “yes.” The deepest desire of our plebian heart is to discover that we are in fact royalty. We have indeed been made heirs by a royal marriage to the King of all Kings.

We will without a shadow of a doubt request our rightful inheritance: To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives. To gaze upon his beauty and to seek him in his temple. (Ps. 27:4)

At the King’s invitation, we find out that our heart’s desire is Him. It is not his gifts. It is not his royal garb. It is – his presence.

We are invited to come and dwell in his presence. But so often I find myself – and I hear my brothers and sisters too – begging for bread, begging for gifts, begging for things – and neglecting the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

This is our invitation. This is it. “Come, let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Did you know Unveiled offers programs to help you step into your calling? Watch this video and visit LiveUnveiled.com/Cohort to learn more.