Scripture: John 16:23-28
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
Consider:
In two different sections of the gospel of John, Jesus talk about the change which will come in the relationship between humanity and God. You see, forever and ever, the people needed a mediator, some person or event or ritual to give them access to God. No one could speak to God unless it was in the form of a burning bush, or voice from the clouds, or in one of the more memorable promises in scripture, through the mouth of a talking donkey.
Here talks about his ability to remove that barrier between us and God. Prayer is open for everyone.
Many American Chrstians have been told a different story from this passage then the one Jesus likely intended - primarily that the “gifts” God will give you - if you just ask him - are monetary. You see preachers on the television telling you if you donate $10 more dollars to their ministry then surely God will bless you with a car or big house or large burly truck. Other times you see “faith healers” who are exploiting the deepest wishes of the sick and infirm telling them if they just believed more - in the form of monetary donations of course - this person can make them well.
If you asked Jesus what he thought about those televangelists, the first thing he would say is probably “huh? What’s a tv?”. Then, he’d shake his head and reply - “you humans, missing the point again.”
Jesus’s promised blessings are never material items, never more of what you wished you had, or something designed to give you wealth or fame. Instead, God’s blessings come in deeper and richer forms. A restored relationship with a friends. More meaningful connections at church. A more fulfilling career - and blessings which carry farther and wider than a shiny new truck.
So you can ask God for both the little things and the big things - then wait for the unexpected blessings which come in surprising and more meaningful ways than you might expect!
Respond:
How do you count your blessings? The old song from Holiday Inn reminds us that “when we are tired, we should count our blessings instead of sheep.” That way the last thing we remember is the blessings of our day and not all the complaints.
So - tonight when you lay down in bed, try making a list of all the little - and big - ways God has blessed you in the last few days. I bet you fall asleep counting those blessings.
Pray:
Lord, help me remember all the ways you offer blessings. Remind me of the little and suprising ways you show up when I ask - and all the ways you have sent those splashes of colors my way this day. Amen.
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