Cookies In Jesus' Name

Paul Harvey once told the story of a three-year-old boy who went shopping with his mom. Sitting in the grocery cart, he spied a box of chocolate chip cookies, and asked for some. His mom immediately told him "No". He continued pleading a they shopped, and finally the mother said, "I told you 'no'. Now don't ask again." As they moved to the checkout line, the young fellow, sensing that this might be his last chance, stood on the seat and shouted with all his might, "In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?" Everyone in the checkout lanes laughed and applauded. And, what do you think happened? The other shoppers were so moved by his request that they pitched in and the lad left the store with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies!

That's not exactly what Jesus had in mind, but he does tell us in John 14:13, "I will do whatever you ask in my name." That's a comforting verse, but also a difficult one. Will Jesus give us everything we ask for, as long as we, like this young boy, invoke His name? I hope not! By now, I'm sure most of us would be dead! That verse has been abused in a multitude of ways, putting God in a box where He's forced to acquiesce to our every whim.

But before we rush too quickly into explaining what Jesus doesn't mean, realize there's a powerful teaching here. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus promises, "Ask, and it shall be given to you."  We need to heed that. Don't be shy about asking! Most of us don't struggle with asking too often. We suffer much more from NOT asking enough! We need to be more like this young boy. Ask with boldness. Ask with faith. Ask with expectation. God just might provide you with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies.