Daily Devotion – June 13, 2020 – Jim Alger
John 15:7
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
One fine Sunday morning my grandfather was assigned to walk me and my little brother up the hill in our town to Sunday School at the little white church at the top of the hill. I understood of course, that my little brother was just along for the walk, as he hadn’t started Sunday School yet, since he was a mere four year-old, whereas I was a much more grown-up and mature seven year-old.
However, in spite of my protests, my grandfather said, “Oh, he’s ready; you take him on in with you.” So, I took him in, handed him off to Mrs. Edsen, the superintendent, and he did just fine.
Jesus said, “Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:17)
Perhaps that was the lesson my grandfather was teaching me that sunny Sunday morning. And it is strongly linked to asking whatever we wish; and abiding in Christ.
For that abiding and asking seem to be such hard instructions to us when we first look at them. That is because we see them as instructions as “have-tos” in our lives. Instead Jesus gives them to us as pure gifts as his gentle loving benediction upon us as we were four-year-old children.
Living in fellowship with Christ I become a new person. That is God’s gift to me. As that new person my prayer becomes effective prayer, prayer that will be answered.
Heavenly Father, let my life be given for others, given as Jesus’ life has been given for me. Amen.
