Come to the Lord Through Jesus

Scripture: In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. John 16:23-24

Observation: As Jesus continues to speak with the disciples at the Passover supper, he makes this statement about how the disciples will continue to learn. Currently, when they have questions, they just ask Jesus because he is right there teaching them. That model will change. Instead, they will ask the Lord - as the prophets and faithful believers of Yahweh have always done - but will do so in Jesus' name. In other words, they will invoke the name of Jesus in their petition for knowledge, wisdom, truth, guidance, instruction, assistance, and deliverance. With the power of Jesus name, and that profession of faith in Jesus, the Lord will respond, often with the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

Application: This is such an enlightening lesson ... that we, as believers in and disciples of Jesus, can petition the Lord because we declare our faith in Jesus when doing so. It is the same model we will someday stand before the Lord and be found worthy, because we are so only in the context of the forgiveness we receive through faith in Jesus. We come to the Lord 'through' Jesus.

Jesus is our intercessor. In fact, he is declaring here and now that he is exactly the intercessor Job asked for over and over. He is the one who, despite us not being good enough to be acceptable to the Lord, can talk to the Lord on our behalf and thus petition the Lord for grace and mercy.

Today, I do not ask Jesus for things as if he is sitting here next to me. Instead, I do ask the Lord for his direction in matters ranging from my work, to my daily activity, to proper next steps in life, and when I do so in Jesus name, that makes my ask worthy of an audience.

And yes, knowing that the creator of the universe is willing to hear and respond to my requests does, indeed, make my joy complete.

Prayer: Lord, as I begin searching for the next steps in my life today, please guide both the circumstances and my actions. I desire to see your direction, your path, and your will, and to only follow you in this matter. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.