Nearer Than You Think

JOHN 16:23-28
Jesus said to his disciples, "Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father."

Image by Haeslene from Pixabay

It must be our fervent prayer that we know plainly of the Father. We do need a clear understanding of who the Father is. Sometimes, there is a tendency to consider Jesus as the ‘nice’ guy and the Father as a baseball-bat-wielding God always and ever ready to smash heads at the least offense. We must call to mind, the Father’s ever-readiness to listen, to hear and to respond to our call, for He Himself loves us! Jesus is here teaching us that we all have an unfettered access to the Throne Room of love, mercy and grace.

There is therefore no need to carry our loads from one human door to the next when the Maker of all things stands ready to help in times of need. Yes, ask but in the name of Jesus, our Advocate and Mediator. Jesus directs your steps, my steps directly to God to whom each and everyone of us has been reconciled by his blood. The Father loves you, so, make it your personal responsibility to seek His face in daily prayer, whether the church doors are closed or not.

In the name of Jesus – by saying so we 'remind' the Father of His unconditional love that made Him freely offer His Precious Son, His One and Only Begotten Son as a ransom for our sins, his obedience and his righteousness with which we are clothed – in short, when we pray in the name of Jesus, we are in effect telling the Father, to remember and consider what the name Jesus means to Him!

Whatever we ask? Sure, but first consider this – What will Jesus ask for in this situation? What is the direction of the Holy Spirit in this matter? Will this glorify God? Remember, Jesus asked, Paul asked but ultimately it was the will of God that prevailed. Remember, Solomon asked for the most needful and received the more needful in addition.

1st Kings 3:10-17.10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

In all our dealings with God in prayer, let us also remember what the three Hebrew boys said; our God is able to deliver and He will, but even if He doesn’t….(Daniel 3:17). May the good Lord help us to know He is ever so near, and that He Himself loves us.