Bible League: Living His Word Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.Our verses for today are part of Jesus' final instructions to His disciples before He made the ultimate sacrifice. In them He tells His disciples how they should pray after He departs from them. They should ask the Father for whatever they need in His name. Up until this point the disciples had not used Jesus' name when they prayed. Apparently, they simply followed the old covenant practice of not specifically naming the mediator in their prayers to the Father. The reason why they did not specifically name a mediator was that the mediator had not yet been fully revealed as such. Like all old covenant saints, they simply did not know his name. Once Jesus fulfilled His sacrificial work on earth the disciples would remember what Jesus told them and realize that "Jesus" is the name of the mediator. Everything would then change---including how they should pray. They should then come before the Father in heaven in the name of Jesus, the mediator between God and His people. Jesus promises that if the disciples come before the Father in His name they will receive whatever it is they ask for. Although in and of themselves they are not worthy to receive anything from the Father, because of the meritorious, all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus the Father is willing to bless those who come in Jesus' name with whatever it is they need. Further, they will receive and their joy will be complete. It is part and parcel of the sinful spiritual state of humanity to not ask the Father for anything, much less ask Him in Jesus' name. Those dominated by the sinful spiritual state prefer to go it alone in life, prefer to solve their own problems, and get any glory that comes from it. The message of our verses for today, however, is not for the proud. It is a message for those who realize that we must come before the Father in all humility and ask for what we need in order to fulfill our mission in life. Indeed, we must come before the Father and ask, not in our own name, but in the name of Jesus. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 59, 60, 61 Psalm 59 -- David's Psalm of Deliverance (1Sa 20) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 60 -- David's Psalm of Victory (2Sa 8) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 61 -- Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 28:16-31 Acts 28 -- Paul Ashore at Malta; Preaches at Rome NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. Insight This man's wealth made his life comfortable and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security and identity. The man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. Jesus does not ask all believers to sell everything they have, although this may be his will for some. He does ask us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important than God. Challenge If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of those possessions. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 6:37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.No limit is set to the duration of this promise. It does not merely say, "I will not cast out a sinner at his first coming," but, "I will in no wise cast out." The original reads, "I will not, not cast out," or "I will never, never cast out." The text means, that Christ will not at first reject a believer; and that as he will not do it at first, so he will not to the last. But suppose the believer sins after coming? "If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." But suppose that believers backslide? "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." But believers may fall under temptation! "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." But the believer may fall into sin as David did! Yes, but he will "Purge them with hyssop, and they shall be clean; he will wash them and they shall be whiter than snow;" "From all their iniquities will I cleanse them." "Once in Christ, in Christ forever, Nothing from his love can sever." "I give unto my sheep," saith he, "eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." What sayest thou to this, O trembling feeble mind? Is not this a precious mercy, that coming to Christ, thou dost not come to One who will treat thee well for a little while, and then send thee about thy business, but he will receive thee and make thee his bride, and thou shalt be his forever? Receive no longer the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption whereby thou shalt cry, Abba, Father! Oh! the grace of these words: "I will in no wise cast out." Daily Light on the Daily Path John 7:50 Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them,Matthew 26:58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome. John 12:42,43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; • for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Matthew 17:20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 2 Timothy 1:7,8 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. • Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. Matthew 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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