ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Jesus wants us to have joy. Yet none of us has complete joy. Why not? We want it and Jesus wants it for us. So why not? We have to ask! Why hold back good things until we ask? Because God wants us to realize that "it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (cf. Eph. 2:8-9). Many of us secretly believe we deserve everything God could possibly give us. This is not the case. Our existence itself is a gift. What could we possibly be owed? God will not humor this illusion. Instead, he wants us to realize that while he does in fact give us everything he possibly can give he does so out of love for us.
Really? Everything he possibly can give? Everything!
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (cf. Rom. 8:32).
It matters how we ask.
On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
We ask in the name of Jesus. We go to the Father loves us and ask for what we need in the name of his beloved and only begotten Son. Because we love Jesus the Father is willing to pour out on us the same love he pours out on Jesus. This is what it means to ask the Father in the name of his Son. It means we ask in view of the special prerogatives that such a relationship entails. It is so far beyond what we could ever deserve. It is beyond what we could ever ask or imagine (cf. Eph. 3:20). Yet this is his promise to us.
God wants to reveal himself to us beyond all figures of speech. He wants us to know him intimately. He wants us to be able to speak boldly about him as Apollos does. Apollos is bold because he knows Jesus. It doesn't matter that there are important details which he does not yet know. He is ready to hear and learn these when he is taught but he does not let them delay him. He doesn't let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Since he knows Jesus "accurately" he has all that he needs. He can speak the truth he does know while remaining open to learn more. He gives in the name of Jesus. And when it is time for him to receive from Priscilla and Aquila he is able to do so because they give in the name of Jesus. All of this means that the generosity of the Father is honored. None of them takes the gift for granted.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
May we learn to do all things in the name of Jesus as well. When his name marks all of our decisions our motivations are transformed. We become thankful. We become joyful. Our entire lives become offerings to the glory of God.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31)
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