I Wish for You ... Jesus

Two weeks ago I shared how I received God’s blessings through the prayers of other Christians. Likewise, it is my goal, and for the most part my practice, to read God’s Word at the beginning of each day, and then to pray for God’s grace and help for the world around us, for other people, and for myself. In fact, as I was praying through my prayer list on Tuesday, August 22, a clear thought hit me. I pray for people with illness, for those with family trouble, for people with cancer, for folks who face various faith and life challenges. I pray for churches, and leaders, and government officials, and those grieving. I pray for those serving in the military, I pray for myself and for the individual members of my family, and for others. What hit me was the realization that, even though I pray specifically for these the needs and circumstances in the lives of God’s people, ultimately, in spite of the reason for prayer, the bottom line is that I wish Jesus for them.

That can sound like the unrealistic spiritual thinking of a Christian pastor. But I also believe it is true. Please consider a few verse from God’s Word. In The Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches, “7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11) Jesus promises that God hears and answers our prayers. And, in response to our prayers, God gives . . . GOOD! After all, it is our lord who knows best what is good for us.

In Romans 8:32, God also teaches through St. Paul, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans. 8:32) Our Heavenly Father does give Jesus, His Son, and with Jesus our Lord also takes care of all our needs.

In Jesus God gives forgiveness (Luke 7:48-50), eternal life (John 10:27-30), peace (John 14:27), joy (Philippians 4:4), protection (John 10:11), strength (John 14:16-17), and everything we need for this life. Our Creator, Savior, and Comforter is wiser than we are. He loves us with a love which even led Him to send His only-begotten Son to die for us and to save us. As we face the trials of life what we really DO need is . . . Jesus.

There are many in our world today who want nothing to do with the Lord, or His promised blessings. Neither do they want His wise guidance for their lives. However, those reactions just makes Jesus all that much more exactly what we need.

As I pray for God’s help for our world, and for those I care about, I am praying they / you / we . . . receive Jesus.