Wednesday, May 16, 2007
John 16:24 "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
TOUGH LOVE FOR TOUGH TIMES
It is further seen in this promise what a great love the Lord has for us His children. For even though we are so foolish as to waste our time worrying about meaningless things in the midst of such a severe battle, even though we offer up to God such dribbling words as are our normal prayers, still He listens to us. Then too, He is not so foolish as to give us those things which would but distract us and lead us into defeat. We turn around in a fit and fight and scream at God, indeed we throw tantrums against Him in our mind and thoughts because He does not give us what we want. But still His love is seen in that He withholds these things from us. He withholds them until we wake up and realize where we are and what we really need.
This is the purpose of this verse, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Why are we so foolish as to think that our joy is fulfilled in anything that we can see or touch or taste? But this is the purpose for which Jesus gives us prayer, that is, in order to fulfill our joy. What drunk man ever found lasting joy in that drink which he craves so ardently? Let us not be surprised that the Lord treats us as children since we show that we are indeed children. Being often unaware of what is really good for us, but constantly and only concerned with earthly things rather than the things of God and His kingdom.
Our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus are very concerned that our joy might be full -- and that we might dine on green pastures and drink of good clean streams. And therefore He gives us this promise that when we ask He will listen and give us every good thing. But if the result and purpose of this great gift is to fulfill our joy as indeed Christ says here, then let us stand in faith absolutely assured and certain that whatever situation we currently are in, it is the best situation for us to be in.
