Reflection on Jn 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Jesus, at the Last Supper, speaks about our spiritual unity with Him. Through baptism we share in His redemptive death and in His new life, which is inseparably linked with His glorious resurrection. Yet baptism alone is not enough. For God’s life to remain within us – and even more, to grow in us – faith is needed, faith in the word of Jesus. This faith is accompanied by acts of humility and by trials of fidelity. In this context, we need to recall the essence of the parable of the vine and the branches. From the vine flows the life-giving sap into the branches – that is, the same Spirit who dwells in Jesus Christ also works in us, the baptized, as long as we remain united with Jesus through faith. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes that without Him we can do nothing, and He gives His branches this promise: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” The condition for anything to work for our true good – not only temporal but also eternal – is that we remain united with Jesus through faith. His word helps us to maintain this unity; we are called to abide in His word. We are not only to hear it, but to live it! It must take root within us. Through the word of Jesus, we keep a living communion with Christ – abide in Jesus by abiding in His word. Then Jesus says: “You will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Such a disciple of Jesus will not ask for vain or harmful things that would cause others pain or loss, but for what is truly good. And Jesus promises: “…and it shall be done for you.” Yet it is not said that it will happen immediately. Sometimes one must persevere in faith in the promise for a longer time. Every promise is accompanied by a trial – a test of our faith, showing whether we truly believe in God Almighty and in His omnipotence in a concrete situation.
For example, when we pray for someone’s conversion, it is not a simple matter, because that person has free will and the right to refuse the gift we are asking for on their behalf. God respects their freedom. However, if we stand firm in faith and perseverance, God will act – for that person’s good and because of our faith and perseverance – so that their soul may be saved.
If you ask, “What is the most precious thing we can pray for?” I answer: for the salvation of our own soul and for the salvation of our neighbours. That is the greatest gift and the highest good – for us and for those around us! We will surely be heard. But we must abide in God’s word and persevere in faith. From the lives of the saints we know, for example, that Saint Monica prayed for the conversion of her son Augustine for eighteen years. Some even prayed for the conversion of their loved ones for sixty years. God eventually heard every one of them. Many times, it was only when the person praying had already died – when their coffin was being laid into the ground – that God granted their final request for the conversion of the one they had prayed for all their life. May this be an encouragement especially for women and mothers today. May they fight – may they literally wrestle – for the salvation of their children, and never grow weary in faith.
PROMISES TO CLAIM
- Fill in the following chart.
Verse Promise Condition, if Any
Jn 15:7
Lam 3:22-23
Rom 8:28
Gal 6:7
- Why do you feel God places conditions on some promises?
- What is God’s attitude about fulfilling His promises to you? 2Cor 1:20
What should your attitude be in claiming God’s promises? Heb 6:12
It is helpful and encouraging to note God’s promises. You may want to keep a list of these promises, their conditions, and their results. God’s promises often form a “chain” like the example below.
PROMISE WHAT I MUST DO RESULT
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him BELIEVE ETERNAL LIFE
should not perish
but have everlasting life.
Question for reflection:
Discover how Jehoshaphat utilized the promises of God. Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.
a. What was the first thing Jehoshaphat did? (Verses 3, 6-12)
b. How did God answer him? (Verses 15-17)
c. Was this a promise?
d. What was his next response? (Verse 18)
e. What evidence is there that Jehoshaphat believed God’s promise?
f. How did he encourage others? (Verse 20)
g. What was the result? (Verses 22, 27)
- What is one promise you have discovered in your Bible reading?
Specifically, how has this promise helped you?
“O man, I beseech you do not treat God’s promises as if they were curiosities for a museum; but use them as everyday sources of comfort. Trust the Lord whenever your time of need comes on.”
SUMMARY
Walking by faith
Faith is founded on the reliable Word of God. When a Christian believes in God and in His Word, they experience hope, joy, peace, answered prayers, and the fulfilment of many of God’s promises.
Objects of faith
People may build their lives on faith in many things that ultimately disappoint. The only trustworthy object of faith is God and His Word.
Examples of faith
Faith has accomplished many things. Which of the examples mentioned in Hebrews 11 is the most important to you?
The promises of God
God has made many promises, and He never fails. God does what He says, because He is faithful to His Word.
Promises to claim
Christians should take the opportunity to stand on God’s promises, for God longs to fulfil the promises on which we stand.
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