Out of duty or out of love
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. (John 16, 24)
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete. I have been telling you all this in metaphors, the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors; but tell you about the Father in plain words. When that day comes you will ask in my name; and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you, because the Father himself loves you for loving me and believing that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I leave the world to go to the Father.’ (John 16, 23b-28)
Our prayers must reach the Father in the name of Jesus. We become closer to God in the measure we love and believe in Jesus. This is the only way prayer takes on its full meaning. Did you pray every day this week? For how long? Did you pray out of duty or out of love?
