Last week I asked someone, “Please can you give me an iPod dock and a flat screen TV?” Their answer was “Yes. I would love to give you those things. They will be delivered tomorrow.” This was for the Fusion stand at the summer festivals. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive.

In a recent blog, “Are you ready to order?” I talked about how we need to be ready to answer when Jesus asks, “what can I do for you?” But I have been stirred since writing that by dwelling on how serious an offer that is. Jesus really means it. On a quick dip into John’s gospel we see him repeat it many times.

He says, “I will do whatever you ask in my name” (John 14 V 13). Then he puts a proviso in, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (John 15 v 7). He goes on to explain why he his offer exists, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 15 v 16) Then, in case we hadn’t got the message, he bangs the message home, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16 v 24)

We often find asking hard in our culture because it seems selfish to ask for something. Like a spoilt kid who keeps demanding the best toy or the newest game. But that is cultural, not biblical. In fact Jesus says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11) Notice the last bit, “those who ASK him!”

There is a very genuine offer from God to all of us to ask for what we need. Are we going to get over ourselves and our cultural barriers and do what Jesus invites us to do? Are we going to ask God for what we need? There is a promise in the bible that the response will be a positive one. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt 7 v7)

Now I need to be clear that I am not pedalling some sort of materialistic, prosperity gospel here! But I do believe that our Father in heaven wants to give his kids, us, good things. The bible says he loves to bless us. So let’s not get all ‘poverty gospel’ and pretend we don’t need anything and can live on crusts and rusty water. Let’s ask him for what we need, trust he will provide it and get on with the business of telling the world about how good our Father is.