It is always fascinating to see how the Bible, a.k.a., God’s Word, can be twisted and turned to say what we want it to say. We’ve all seen it in things like the prosperity gospel and people justifying a multitude of sins from abortion and gay marriage to transgender approvals.
In Jesus own words He tells us that “you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7b). Who would turn down such a generous offer? All I have to do is ask?! Sadly, many fail to look at the “part A” of the verse. It says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you.”
That is a big “if.” When we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, it means we are soaked in His word. We have read it, we have studied it, and we have let it, through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, abide to such a degree that we live according to what it says – willingly.
When we become obedient to God, we will want for ourselves what He wants for us. We will ask for the things that bring us joy because of who He has changed us to be (2 Corinthians 5:17). These things will also bring honor and glory to God.
Prior to becoming a believer, it was hard for me to understand wanting what God wants. Like many people who do not (yet) know God, I thought He would rob me of the things I found fun and the people who were my friends. In His grace, God did take some of those things from me, but I only grew in my love for Him because it was so obvious that they needed to be gone.
When a new believer starts to grow in knowledge and understanding of His word, God places the desires that please Him in our hearts, so that what we desire is what brings Him pleasure to do for us. When we ask for what He has promised, He is glorified.
An example of this was a time when some people in a church believed that their leadership had made a really poor (maybe even sinful) decision. Others were hurt and felt they were being ridiculed and dismissed as unimportant. One person wanted revenge. As she was reminded of God’ promises that revenge belonged to Him, she began to ask God to take that revenge even if she would never see it happen.
It brought her peace to know that these men were in the hands of a gracious and just God. He would know exactly how to deal with them. She prayed for peace that surpasses understanding and God gave it to her.
She had abided enough in God’s word to know how to pray, what to ask for that would satisfy her and glorify God.
Are we abiding in God’s word sufficiently to know what it says about all the things in our lives we need to ask for? Overcoming our pride? Justice for the unborn? Justice for the evil who inflict harm on the innocent? Eyes to see for our elected officials? Patience for ourselves? The list is very long!
Do I want what God wants or what the humanistic culture tells me to want after twisting God’s Word?
So, the “Big If?” If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7
