(Jesus said) "Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."[John 16:24]
Back in 1985, I learned the power of asking a question that literally changed my life. I was dating this wonderful girl named Marie Yvette Hernandez. Oh, she was beautiful, she was smart, she was great to talk to. She was a fun person to be around, a fun person to do things with. It would seem like the easiest thing in the world would be to ask someone like that to marry me. But Yvette teases me to this day that when I asked her to marry me, from her point, it seemed like I immediately tried to give her a way out, almost taking my proposal right back. Now, why would a guy like me, who couldn't think of any better person to spend my life with, why would I be so afraid to ask the question: "Will you marry me?"
Every guy listening in today knows the reason why. There's fear at times like that, a fear of rejection. Such fear comes because you know the person you're asking is special. You know you love them, but you worry if they'll love you the same in return. You worry about whether they'll answer "Yes," or "No," because their response matters. A yes from them could change your life. A no from them could leave you emotionally devastated. All I can say was thank God I was willing to ask.
I think Jesus is telling us to take a risk like that with Him, and more. Too many people don't pray, don't share with God their fears and dreams because they are afraid He might dismiss them, or even worse, reject them. Maybe the reason we don't make our concerns and petitions known to God is because we really don't believe that He cares for us or that He cares that much about us. That's why Jesus makes it clear. If you want to know how God Himself feels about you, look at who He is, look at what Jesus Himself has done for you. His cross, His resurrection -- that's God's love in action for you. And if a God in heaven loves you that much, of course He wants to hear and answer your prayers.
So ask, pray! When love from God is that sure, when His love is that certain, it makes asking and praying so much easier. And even those times when you feel like God answers your prayers "No," you already know that even that answer is for your good. So in that confidence and in that boldness, ask, make petitions of God in Jesus' Name, and receive whatever God has in store for you with a joy that He wishes you to have because you ask. I learned a little aspect of that truth over 30 years ago when I courageously asked a beautiful lady to marry me. Imagine how your life will change when you have the courage to pray, to ask the big questions of God, because you know He loves and cares for you.
Ask and see!
THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, give us courage to ask whatever we need of You in prayer and contentment to receive whatever answer You give because we know that You love us in all things! Amen!
Back in 1985, I learned the power of asking a question that literally changed my life. I was dating this wonderful girl named Marie Yvette Hernandez. Oh, she was beautiful, she was smart, she was great to talk to. She was a fun person to be around, a fun person to do things with. It would seem like the easiest thing in the world would be to ask someone like that to marry me. But Yvette teases me to this day that when I asked her to marry me, from her point, it seemed like I immediately tried to give her a way out, almost taking my proposal right back. Now, why would a guy like me, who couldn't think of any better person to spend my life with, why would I be so afraid to ask the question: "Will you marry me?"
Every guy listening in today knows the reason why. There's fear at times like that, a fear of rejection. Such fear comes because you know the person you're asking is special. You know you love them, but you worry if they'll love you the same in return. You worry about whether they'll answer "Yes," or "No," because their response matters. A yes from them could change your life. A no from them could leave you emotionally devastated. All I can say was thank God I was willing to ask.
I think Jesus is telling us to take a risk like that with Him, and more. Too many people don't pray, don't share with God their fears and dreams because they are afraid He might dismiss them, or even worse, reject them. Maybe the reason we don't make our concerns and petitions known to God is because we really don't believe that He cares for us or that He cares that much about us. That's why Jesus makes it clear. If you want to know how God Himself feels about you, look at who He is, look at what Jesus Himself has done for you. His cross, His resurrection -- that's God's love in action for you. And if a God in heaven loves you that much, of course He wants to hear and answer your prayers.
So ask, pray! When love from God is that sure, when His love is that certain, it makes asking and praying so much easier. And even those times when you feel like God answers your prayers "No," you already know that even that answer is for your good. So in that confidence and in that boldness, ask, make petitions of God in Jesus' Name, and receive whatever God has in store for you with a joy that He wishes you to have because you ask. I learned a little aspect of that truth over 30 years ago when I courageously asked a beautiful lady to marry me. Imagine how your life will change when you have the courage to pray, to ask the big questions of God, because you know He loves and cares for you.
Ask and see!
THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, give us courage to ask whatever we need of You in prayer and contentment to receive whatever answer You give because we know that You love us in all things! Amen!
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read: 1 Samuel 22; Psalm 56; Luke 22:1-23
1 Samuel 22: Saul Murders the Priests of God
Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read: 1 Samuel 22; Psalm 56; Luke 22:1-23
1 Samuel 22: Saul Murders the Priests of God
1-2 So David got away and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and others associated with his family heard where he was, they came down and joined him. Not only that, but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all.
3-4 Then David went to Mizpah in Moab. He petitioned the king of Moab, “Grant asylum to my father and mother until I find out what God has planned for me.” David left his parents in the care of the king of Moab. They stayed there all through the time David was hiding out.
5 The prophet Gad told David, “Don’t go back to the cave. Go to Judah.” David did what he told him. He went to the forest of Hereth.
6-8 Saul got word of the whereabouts of David and his men. He was sitting under the big oak on the hill at Gibeah at the time, spear in hand, holding court surrounded by his officials. He said, “Listen here, you Benjaminites! Don’t think for a minute that you have any future with the son of Jesse! Do you think he’s going to hand over choice land, give you all influential jobs? Think again. Here you are, conspiring against me, whispering behind my back—not one of you is man enough to tell me that my own son is making deals with the son of Jesse, not one of you who cares enough to tell me that my son has taken the side of this, this . . . outlaw!”
9-10 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, spoke up: “I saw the son of Jesse meet with Ahimelech son of Ahitub, in Nob. I saw Ahimelech pray with him for God’s guidance, give him food, and arm him with the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Saul sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, along with the whole family of priests at Nob. They all came to the king.
12 Saul said, “You listen to me, son of Ahitub!”
“Certainly, master,” he said.
13 “Why have you ganged up against me with the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword, even praying with him for God’s guidance, setting him up as an outlaw, out to get me?”
14-15 Ahimelech answered the king, “There’s not an official in your administration as true to you as David, your own son-in-law and captain of your bodyguard. None more honorable either. Do you think that was the first time I prayed with him for God’s guidance? Hardly! But don’t accuse me of any wrongdoing, me or my family. I have no idea what you’re trying to get at with this ‘outlaw’ talk.”
16 The king said, “Death, Ahimelech! You’re going to die—you and everyone in your family!”
17 The king ordered his henchmen, “Surround and kill the priests of God! They’re hand in glove with David. They knew he was running away from me and didn’t tell me.” But the king’s men wouldn’t do it. They refused to lay a hand on the priests of God.
18-19 Then the king told Doeg, “You do it—massacre the priests!” Doeg the Edomite led the attack and slaughtered the priests, the eighty-five men who wore the sacred robes. He then carried the massacre into Nob, the city of priests, killing man and woman, child and baby, ox, donkey, and sheep—the works.
20-21 Only one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped: Abiathar. He got away and joined up with David. Abiathar reported to David that Saul had murdered the priests of God.
22-23 David said to Abiathar, “I knew it—that day I saw Doeg the Edomite there, I knew he’d tell Saul. I’m to blame for the death of everyone in your father’s family. Stay here with me. Don’t be afraid. The one out to kill you is out to kill me, too. Stick with me. I’ll protect you.”
Psalm 56: A David Psalm, When He Was Captured by the Philistines in Gath
1-4 Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around,
stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by
but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty
to beat me up.
When I get really afraid
I come to you in trust.
I’m proud to praise God;
fearless now, I trust in God.
What can mere mortals do?
5-6 They don’t let up—
they smear my reputation
and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up,
sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise,
wait their chance to get me.
7 Pay them back in evil!
Get angry, God!
Down with these people!
8 You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
9 If my enemies run away,
turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I’ll know
that God is on my side.
10-11 I’m proud to praise God,
proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
what can mere mortals do to me?
12-13 God, you did everything you promised,
and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
in the sunlit fields of life.
Luke 22: The Passover Meal
1-2 The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near. The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus but, fearful of the people, they were also looking for a way to cover their tracks.
3-6 That’s when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve. Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them. They couldn’t believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well. He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd.
7-8 The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together.”
9 They said, “Where do you want us to do this?”
10-12 He said, “Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there.”
13 They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.
14-16 When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.”
17-18 Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.”
19 Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.”
20 He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.
21-22 “Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table? It’s true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out—no surprises there. But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday.”
23 They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.
The Lutheran Hour
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St. Louis, Missouri 63141, United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
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St. Louis, Missouri 63141, United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
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