“You may ask “me” for “anything” in my name, and I will do it.”
It is the “only thing” I heard in worship today! But man did that “one sentence” hang out there…It really resonated with me. I can handle “that…” It was as if, “it just hung there” in the air…It would not “dissipate.” It floated above our heads…tantalizing…remaining. It hung there…I heard it “loud and clear…”
That sounds good, Lord! It is great! It is “greater than great…” As a matter of fact it sounds “totally awesome…” That’s “my kind of gospel!” The church is “THE BEST!” I love it when you get stuff “just for asking-for free-no strings- attached-NICE!” You know, the old “ask and it will be given to you?” You know, more people should hear this scripture and take advantage of it…
It is “the real deal,” right? No small print? No money upfront? No credit-card or social security number asked for?
ONE PRAYER or request and it’s all “mine”…right?…I mean, that’s how this “all works”…just pray…or ask…and you “get.” “Getting is good,” especially if it is “for free.” They say there are two kinds of people in this life, “Givers” and “Takers”…would this make me a “taker?” And don’t they also say that it is better to “give” than to “receive?”
Now, I am a little bit confused! Let me think about this for a little longer…because this requires some “serious thought!” Let’s take it slow and easy…
I remember “stuff” from growing up – “where you got” – exactly what you asked for”…and then, found out later, it wasn’t what you “really wanted…or needed”…or, that it wasn’t even good for you…I think that was like on the “Outer Limits” or “ONE STEP BEYOND!” (or, The TWILIGHT ZONE or something!)
Sometimes, what seems like a “blessing” can actually be a “curse”…so you have to be pretty careful here…It’s gotta be good…It is like rubbing the old “proverbial Genie’s lamp”…You’ve got to make the “right request.” You have to know “what” you are asking for…But it seems to me, that those things never worked out so well on that show – I DREAM OF GENIE! (Remember that one?) It was after all, a comedy!
“I know how this works” – it is a trick. Or, maybe a scam…not a scam, exactly…but you have to be very, VERY CAREFUL…you know? I am looking for a loophole…a loophole would be good. If, it sounds “too good to be true”…it is usually “too good to be true…” Maybe I didn’t hear it correctly? Maybe I am missing something important…
Let’s see, if I ask for “all the money in the world”…millions and millions and even billions and billions of dollars…But then, die or get hurt in an unforeseen accident in the next minute of time and then, what good is all that money?
If, I pray for a long, long life and live to be 121 years old…What is that, if they are not “good years,” “healthy years…” No wants to be sickly for a lot of years…or incapacitated…
“Consumer beware,” we’ve all heard it! Be careful what you ask for…likewise, be careful what you pray for…
I know people have said things like pray for “world peace” or “an end to all hunger”…but what is that to me? Can “I get” something good, here? I think of cars, houses, cruises, exotic places, money but you know-none of that stuff is really me. That’s not how I was raised…and stuff doesn’t really make you happy…Stuff just gets old and ends up discarded…or is given away…
Maybe it’s not all about “me” at all, but about “others”…come to think of it, I can’t remember Jesus ever asking for “things” for himself!
Except for that one time, where he prayed “If it be your will, let this cup pass from me…”
But that was Jesus and this is me…so what do I ask for? What do I pray for? How do I get something out of all of this? I should, you know, I should “get” something.
Or, maybe as Jesus said, it is all about YOUR WILL and not mine!
Maybe I should be praying for “others”…asking for “others”…maybe that’s the key…
But hey, I mean that’s good and all, it is even “righteous, dude…”
But what about “me?” Over here?
Are you trying to tell me that I have everything that I already need…
Are you saying I do not need more stuff?
No cars? No houses? No cruises? No exotic vacations? No more money? No better health? No longer life? Are you saying, I have enough, I have more than enough? I have enough for myself and even more than I need?
What are you saying here, Lord?
Are you maybe suggesting that we should follow Jesus’ lead? He prayed that YOUR WILL BE DONE! Is that it?
Is that what we are supposed to ask for?
Nothing for ourselves? But rather that YOUR WILL be done…on earth as it is in heaven? Is that enough? Is that all there is? Or, is that like “everything?”
Amen.