Scripture:
John 14:13,14
What's the best thing you've ever got for free?
Praying in Jesus' Name
Driving to the shops, I told my 14 year-old daughter Rachael about the theme of today’s devotional. I asked, “Can you think of a good example from our world today about getting something you don’t deserve or into somewhere you don’t belong because you know someone who does deserve it or belong there?”
She said, “Plus one.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. “Plus one??” I asked, “What’s that?”
“When someone sends out invitations to a party and the invited person is allowed to bring someone else. That person is a plus one. You can only bring a person to a party if the invitation says, ‘Plus one’ on it after your name.”
“So,” I said, “do you give the plus one invitation to your friend so when they get to the party they show the plus one and then they get in?”
“No,” Rachael said. “You usually come to the party with them.”
“Ah,” I said, “then you say: ‘Here’s my invitation and this person is my plus one.’ Right?”
“Right,” Rachael said.
“That’s so cool,” I said (trying to be cool myself). “We are Jesus’ plus one! When He was teaching people how to pray, He said, ‘finish with my Name, and I’ll make sure your prayer gets in to the throne room of God!’ Isn’t that cool?”
Rachael laughed, “Yeah. It is Dad. Very cool.”
But, in truth, it’s even better than a plus one. Because, claiming Jesus’ name is more than just a way to pray. It’s a way of life.
When you do the wrong thing, hold up your Plus One.
When you see someone suffering, hold up your Plus One.
When you want God to fill you with love, hold up your Plus One.
When you want to know if you are going to Heaven, hold up your Plus One.
When you want to know what God sees when he looks at you, hold up your Plus One.
When you finish each prayer “In the Name of Jesus”, you are holding up your Plus One and Jesus promises to say we belong to Him. Because you are Jesus’ Plus One, God treats you with the love and joy He feels toward His Son!
She said, “Plus one.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. “Plus one??” I asked, “What’s that?”
“When someone sends out invitations to a party and the invited person is allowed to bring someone else. That person is a plus one. You can only bring a person to a party if the invitation says, ‘Plus one’ on it after your name.”
“So,” I said, “do you give the plus one invitation to your friend so when they get to the party they show the plus one and then they get in?”
“No,” Rachael said. “You usually come to the party with them.”
“Ah,” I said, “then you say: ‘Here’s my invitation and this person is my plus one.’ Right?”
“Right,” Rachael said.
“That’s so cool,” I said (trying to be cool myself). “We are Jesus’ plus one! When He was teaching people how to pray, He said, ‘finish with my Name, and I’ll make sure your prayer gets in to the throne room of God!’ Isn’t that cool?”
Rachael laughed, “Yeah. It is Dad. Very cool.”
But, in truth, it’s even better than a plus one. Because, claiming Jesus’ name is more than just a way to pray. It’s a way of life.
When you do the wrong thing, hold up your Plus One.
When you see someone suffering, hold up your Plus One.
When you want God to fill you with love, hold up your Plus One.
When you want to know if you are going to Heaven, hold up your Plus One.
When you want to know what God sees when he looks at you, hold up your Plus One.
When you finish each prayer “In the Name of Jesus”, you are holding up your Plus One and Jesus promises to say we belong to Him. Because you are Jesus’ Plus One, God treats you with the love and joy He feels toward His Son!
Reflection Question:
How does it make you feel that Jesus said, "Ask for anything in My name?"
Prayer time:
Before you pray together, ask: What would you like to say to Jesus today?
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