LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Tasters from the King's Table
You Get What You Ask For
The Lord did many good things while he was among mankind, because he had compassion on them. His heart lit up with commiseration, because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd. He healed many: to some, through intercession of friends; to some who were destitute, he healed them of his own self accord, without them even having dared ask. But there are some who he attended to according to the terms of their own asking. That is to say, he granted them what they asked of him.
One time, a leper came before Jesus and told him: "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." The Lord answered him: "I am willing, be clean." He believed that if only the Lord were willing, he would be healed.
Another time, there were some blind men who came to Jesus, who asked them: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They told him: "Yes, Lord..." Then the Lord Jesus told them: "According to your faith it is done for you." This time the Lord placed the attention on their faith.
The Lord told Bartimeus: "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimeus answered: "Rabbi I want to see." The story adds: "Immediately he received his sight." The petition of Bartimeus was very specific, and he received according to what he had requested.
When the father of the boy with an evil spirit came before the Lord to tell him: "If you can do anything, take pity", the Lord answered him in the same terms: "If you can? Everything is possible to him who believes." The man doubted that Jesus could do something, so the Lord, using his own words, responded to him. He would not have been able to do anything had the man not cried out: "Help me overcome my unbelief."
These examples confirm the teaching of our Lord who said: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." And like the teaching in James says: "you do not have, because you do not ask."
How are we asking? Or do we not even ask?