Results of Obeying the Voice
Receiving All We Ask

Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:21-24

Key Verse: 1 John 3:22

…and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

We are studying the results of hearing and obeying the voice!  John assures us that anyone who obeys God’s voice has confidence in God and receives from Him anything we ask.  That is a huge promise to God’s people.  We need to understand the background to these words.

            First, let’s focus on how important obedience is by reading these words.  God values obedience so much that He makes this generous promise: You will receive anything you ask for!  The value of obedience must never be underestimated!

            Second, this promise is based on the context of this entire book.  For example, John returns to this fantastic promise in the fifth chapter, but clarifies it for us:  “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).  John is assuming that his readers are dedicated to God’s plans and purposes.  They would never ask for things outside the will of God.  They so trust that God knows best, they want nothing less than God’s best!  If that is true for you, you can know you will receive all you ask for when your heart wants nothing more and nothing less than God’s perfect answer!  For us who have this attitude, a “no” to a request is as good as a “yes” because we want God’s best.

Father, I will receive all I’m asking for today because all I’m asking for is your best in all my problems and challenges.  In Jesus’ name, amen.