10/12/2009
Author: Staff
If you found Aladdin’s wonder lamp (maybe at the church’s garage sale), rubbed it, and the genie appeared offering you whatever you wanted, what would you ask for?
In 1 Kings 3:5 God appeared to king Solomon saying: "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Are you jealous God offered Solomon this request?
Solomon wasn’t perfect, but he knew of God’s love for him (2 Sam. 12:24-25), and he showed his love to God extravagantly (a 1000 cattle offering in 1Kings 3:4). When was the last time you worshipped God extravagantly? Solomon was in a living relationship with God when He spoke.
Surprise! God is coming to you now: “ask whatever you want and it will be done for you!” It is in Jn. 15:7 and also in Jn. 14:14 (twice!). Is this a genie? No, this is in the context of a living relationship: it is about remaining (abiding) in Jesus, and his Words remaining in us (Jn. 15:7). Jn. 14:14 calls asking out of this relationship ‘asking in Jesus name’. That is quite a relationship! Is it yours?
A good relationship has communication running two ways. Don’t you expect that in a good relationship you know what to ask and then receive the right response? And isn’t it fair that the other person does the same? Jesus does so too, and he also asks from us and expects us to respond: ‘If you love me, you will obey what I command’ (Jn. 14:15, 15:9). The word ‘command’ may sound harsh at first, but remember that when someone all-knowing who loves you perfectly ‘commands’ you something, the only motivation and outcome is the best for you! The command is perfect love. Perfect love alone can expect joyful obedience. Are we abiding in this relationship? Do we trust him and love him? He offers to answer our requests, can he expect us to answer his?
What you are asking from Him reflects what you believe of Him. What do your prayers reflect? What do our ‘church’ prayers reflect? The ones of your church meeting or board? As a church we are facing many potentially God-glorifying challenges (physical growth, growth in numbers, depth and fellowship and outreach etc.). Will we seek God-scale answers, or just God to bless our human plans? What we ask for will show how our relationship with God is.
Don’t know where to start? Join the weekly church prayer meeting. We have plenty to ask for and to praise him for. And keep abiding! We have better than a genie.
