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I. AS LIVING A DIVINE LIFE. The life is that of keeping Divine commandments.

1. This is the effect of loving Christ. Here is a law of mind. He who really loves another is naturally desirous of acting in accord with the wishes of the object loved. We see this in families and among friends, and the professing Christian who is not obedient from love, is not obedient at all.

2. This is the evidence of loving Christ (ver. 21). There may be the most glowing songs of praise, etc., but love is only proved by practical obedience. The true Christian is an incarnation of the God of love. Worldly men only embody and work out the current notions of their age. "I will run the way of Thy commandments when Thou shalt enlarge my heart."

II. AS POSSESSING A DIVINE HELPER (ver. 16).

1. He is the gift of the Father — free, sovereign, priceless

2. He is the messenger of reality — "the Spirit of Truth." The world is under the dominion of falsehood and shams. False ideas of God, life, duty, happiness, and greatness prevail. The Paraclete comes to scatter delusions, and to bring souls into contact with the morally real.

3. He is exclusively for the Christ-loving — "And I will pray the Father...whom the world cannot receive," etc. Love is the receptive and recognizing faculty (1 Corinthians 2:14). As soon may a man, who has not attained the faculty of reading, see in. "Paradise Lost" the genius of Milton as the man who has not the love of Christ, see and receive the Spirit of God.

4. He is the spiritual presence of Christ (ver. 18).

5. He instructs in the things of Christ (ver. 26).

III. AS ENJOYING DIVINE COMPANIONSHIP (vers. 20, 21). Love to Christ makes the soul the residence of God. Such a soul He enters, not as a passing visitor, but a permanent guest (1 Corinthians 3:16).

IV. AS PARTICIPATING IN A DIVINE PEACE (ver. 27). Peace with our own conscience, with society and God. Not as the world giveth.

1. As to quality. The world gives inferior gifts, Christ gives the highest. The world gives non-essential gifts. Men can do without the best of the world's gifts, but Christ's is indispensable.

2. As to manner.

(1) The world gives selfishly, looking for something in return. Christ gives from infinite disinterestedness.

(2) The world gives limitedly. It has neither heart nor capacity to give much. Christ gives unlimitedly.

(3) The world gives occasionally, and according to its moods. Christ gives constantly.

(4) The world gives to its friends. It loves its own. Christ gives to His enemies.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

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KJV: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

WEB: Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.