Have you ever been a bit mystified by Jesus' promise, "whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you"? (16:23, ESV). Can that really be true? Can you ask God for anything and you'll get it? Is this really a "blank check" He's offering?

Instead of a blank check, think of it as a company credit card. With a blank check, you can walk into any store, find anything you like and bring it home. It's a gift you spend on yourself. A company card, on the other hand, can buy just as much, but the purchase is on behalf of the company you represent.

That's what the phrase, "in my name," means in the verse above. A constant theme of Jesus' ministry is that His work is in behalf of God the Father. And in these past couple of chapters, Jesus reminded His disciples that they'll soon be doing the works of the Father too.

Jesus has promised us the help of the Holy Spirit to instruct us and to remind us of His teachings and actions. He also promises us the resources we need as to accomplish His work on earth. Will this mean fast cars and fine dining for the children of God? Rarely. What it does mean is that whenever our hearts are set on doing the will of God, we'll have everything we need.

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