Asking in a Person's Name

*’ If you send a child or servant to a friend for a thing in your nai?ie, the request is yours j and he that denieth the child or servant denieth you. fesus Christ hath bidden you ask 17t his 7ta7ne; so that in effect your request becomes Chrisfs request. God can no more de7iy your request in Chrisfs 7ianie tha/t he ca7t de7iy Christ This is the true meaning of asking in Christ’s name. It is a higher plea than — for Jesu’s sake. The one pleads the Saviour’s merit as a penitent sinner; the other urges his authority as a favoured friend. Jesus permits his disciple to make request in his Master’s stead, using the name and dignity of Christ as his warrant. Armed wiih this argument our prayers become akin to the intercession of the Lord himself. Herein hes at once the power of prayer and also its limit. For who will dare to use “the name which is above every name” except with surest right to do so? I may beg for Christ’s sake when my petition is somewhat doubtful; but the royal seal must only be set to requests which the most searching examination commends to our judgment as according to the divine promise, and needful for God’s glory. We are trusted with the Prince’s signet-ring, but gracious discretion must be used in its employment. When the Spirit of God prompts the desire, and faith sees how well Jesus deserves the blessing, and how surely he himself would have sought it of the Father; then prayer is power invincible, for it is the pierced hand held open before the Father’s approving heart. Cannon have been called “the last arguments of kings “; but the name of Jesus is the master-argument of the King’s children.

Lord Jesus, cause me to know in my daily experience the glory and sweetness of thy name, and then teach me how to use it in my prayer, so that I maybe even like Israel, a prince prevailing with God. Thy name is my passport, and secures me access; thy name is my plea, and secures me answer; thy name is my honour, and secures me glory. Blessed name, thou art honey in my mouth, music in my ear, heaven in my heart, and all in all to all my being!