Asking and Receiving (John 14:7-15)

Today's scripture: John 14:7-15

We've often talked about how Jesus claimed His divinity. He stated clearly that He and the Father are one. These verses also confirm this. But that's not what I want to focus on today.

Verses 13-14 give promises that I believe are often taken out of context, both in this passage and throughout the Bible. Jesus states, "Ask, and I will do whatever you ask ... I will do whatever you ask me to do" (John 14:13-14, CEV). So, people say, "Okay, Jesus. I ask for this or for that." Then they don't get what they ask for, and they say, "See Jesus isn't who He says He is. Either He doesn't exist, or He's a liar."

What they don't understand is what else the Bible says about our asking.

First, they can look at verse 15, where Jesus says, "If you love me, you will do as I command" (John 14:15, CEV). How many people really read God's word and follow Jesus' commandments? Do they really live as Jesus did? Do they avoid sin?

Second, elsewhere in the Bible, we're given more instructions about how we're to ask for anything. We need to "ask without any doubting" (James 1:5).

Most importantly, we need to ask for God's will. Later in James, we read we're to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that" (4:15).

God is a loving, caring, compassionate Father, and He loves to give His children good things (Matthew 7:11). He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Two verses that many of us memorize (and I have to say, they are among my favorites) are Psalms 37:4-5. Again, however, we sometimes hone in on the promise but neglect the commands. Yes, God will give us the desires of our hearts, but we're to delight in Him, which means we're to find in Him our greatest joy. We're also to commit our ways to Him, which means we're to surrender everything to Him. Finally, we're to trust in Him, giving everything, including our own wills, to Him.

Yes, Jesus will answer our prayers. Yes, He will give us what we ask for. But only if follow His commandments, if we ask in God's will, if we delight in Him, if we surrender to Him, and if we trust Him to fulfill His purpose in and through us.