"At that day ye shall ask in My name," i.e., in My nature. Not--"you shall use My name as a magic word," but--"You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me." "That day" is not a day hereafter, but a day meant for here and now. "The Father Himself loveth you"--the union is so complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that life will be free from eternal perplexities, but that just as he knew the Father's heart and mind, so by the baptism of the Holy Ghost He can lift us into the heavenly places where He can reveal the counsels of God to us.
"Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name. . . . (John 16:23)" "That day" is a day of undisturbed relationship between God and the saint. Just as Jesus stood unsullied in the presence of His Father, so by the mighty efficacy of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into that relationship--"that they may be one, even as We are One. (John 17:22)"
". . . He will give it you. (John 16:23)" Jesus says that God will recognize our prayers. What a challenge! By the Resurrection and Ascension power of Jesus, by the sent-down Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into such a relationship with the Father that we are at one with the perfect sovereign will of God by our free choice even as Jesus was. In that wonderful position, placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in His name, in His nature, which is gifted to us by the Holy Ghost, and Jesus says--"Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you." The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested by His own statements.
- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition
Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.
My thoughts
Chambers continues these thoughts of prayer that have been talked about him now for the last 3 days. His focus on prayer is really more about the relationship Jesus had with the Father and it being oneness and how we need to have this in mind as we think of prayer. Jesus was one with the Father so his asking was one. He knew the Father's heart and mind and so receiving things were done, I think, because asking was based upon that relationship. I'm not sure if we ask always from the same thinking. Our requests are varied and a laundry list of our wants. I need to be focused on my relationship with Him first. As he starts out saying today - "In My Name" is not a magic word to use so you get what you want but really speaks of the union we have with Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment