You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15: 16, 17, NKJV.
Dear God, as we enter into Your holy presence, we ask that everything that is not like You will be set aside, that we may worship You in righteousness. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
I decided to take an extra day to talk about asking and receiving. Yesterday I said, those who *abided in the Savior, and His Word abided in them, could ask whatever they would of the Father, and it would be given to them! I thought it would be worth the while to get a little deeper into what Jesus was conveying to the disciples when He said this, by looking further into the chapter, where He says the same thing, but adds a little more information on the subject.
Yesterday we commented on the portion of Scripture where Jesus said, that if we abided in His word, and His word, in us, we would be granted whatever we asked of Him. Today, we hear Him saying, that when, in obedience to Jesus’ command, we go and bear fruit, and our fruit remain; whatever we ask the Father in His name, we will receive! This declaration is immediately followed by, “These things I command you, that you love one another.” What was Jesus saying to His disciples then; what is He saying to us, now; that anything we ask, good, or bad, would be granted unto us? Let us look at the way Jesus framed the promise, both times.
The first time this promise is made; it is on the condition that we abide in His Word; and His Word abide in us. Abiding in Christ’s Word is much more than just reading His Word daily. I believe it goes to the depth of transformation! The Word becomes a part of us. This idea is complemented by Jesus’ promise to write His law upon our hearts! Once it is inscribed there, it is a part of us! Wherever we go it goes. The truth is, it is the other way around! The Word becomes our guide. Wherever it goes, we go! It is a “lamp to [our] feet, and a light to [our] path (Psalm 119: 105)!
When the promise is mentioned the second time, two things are worthy of observation. Jesus said: 1) I chose you and appointed you. Because Jesus is no respecter of persons, He calls all, but as the Scripture says, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22: 14). Therefore, the promise is to all who responded to the call of Christ; those who received Him! They are commissioned to go and bear fruit that remain (endure, continue). If this is referring to the fruit of the Spirit, and I believe it is; then these are those, who with the help of the Holy Spirit, continue steadfast in their relationship to God. Their requests, are in compliance with the will of God!
2) Then comes the command to love as Christ loves. In verses 12, and 13, He talks about the greatest love as a love that is self-sacrificing. For those who are willing to love as He loved, is the promise made. Such prayers will always be based on the will of God; because they are inspired by the love of God!
“Ask what you will in My name” because, “…No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84: 11).
*past and past participle of the word abide.