Faith and Knowledge

If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

 - From John 14

I think that there is a connection between faith and knowledge. If you ask Jesus to do anything, in His name, He will ask the Father and the Father will grant it.

Not to be irreverent, but, like a genie.

But the difference between Jesus and a genie, is that, in order for Jesus to grant your wish, you have to ask in His Name. 

And how do you anything in someone's name, without knowing the person fully? You have to know Christ. You have to understand Him.

Your knowledge in him must yield total confidence that He can do what you ask. And that's knowledge.

Knowledge requires study. 

Children believe a lot of things . . . their imaginations are so rich, that they can believe some things so profoundly that, in their pretend times, it all becomes real. Or perhaps their dream world is made more vibrant, through their ardent belief that it's true.

Faith and knowledge are like that, too. Like Christopher Robin, and Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes. These kids actually experienced what is found in the literature. Imagination is a powerful thing.

Faith, belief, knowledge, confidence, etc. 

And your knowledge of Christ must be such that you have the wisdom to back away from things that He would not grant you. What sense is it, for Him to extend the life of an aged loved one that has become mortally sick? Beyond death, the believer has so much more to experience. Christ is not going to prevent His children from something far better, unless there is a really good reason. And only He is going to understand that, not you.

If Christ has not been granting our wishes, then we need to get to know Him better. Because a name is just words. Asking for things in Jesus' name really means: seek His will.