1 John 3:22: Whatever We Ask We Receive

1 John 3:22
[22] and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (ESV)

Let's be honest. You read the first words of this verse and you got a little greedy. "Whatever we ask we receive from him." It sounds almost like a guaranteed Christmas wish list, doesn't it? I imagine that the average person can ask for a lot of things. And many of the things that we would ask for are things we need like food, clothing, health, and other kinds of necessary provision. Granted, we might ask for some other goodies as well. So, what is John really saying here.

I want to start by defining what John is not saying in this verse. John is not espousing a "Blab it and Grab it" theology. We do not just bark at God and he has to come running and give us whatever we want. John is also not promoting a theology that says if you did not get what you wanted from God you obviously do not have enough faith. But, let's look at what John is saying.

John is describing RELATIONSHIP. If we are keeping his commandments and doing what pleases him we are clearly walking in relationship with him. And as we walk with him we will know what he wants for us and what he does not want for us. The one who only goes to God with demands, but never spends time with him is also not going to receive what they ask because they will ask with wrong motivations, from a wrong heart, and outside of relationship. But, if we are in right relationship with God we will know his heart and ask him for things in accordance with what we know he desires for us.

Let me close today with this example. My father tells a story of when he was a Bible College student. He and my mother had no money and were just about completely out of food. He knelt down beside the bed and said to the Lord, "I know that you have called me here. If you have called me here to starve I will do it, but please provide for our need." Within the hour there was a knock at the door. Bags of groceries were on the doorstep. Included in those bags was my father and mother's favorite candy bar. Our loving father will give us whatever we ask as we are walking in right relationship with him.

What do you truly need from the Lord? Draw close to him. Love him. Learn of him from his Holy Word. When you have a need ask. You will receive.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog