Then,
teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to
a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say
to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for
him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The
door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help
you.' But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you
keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need
because of your shameless persistence. - Luke 11:5-8
 |
| Fresh Dill from my garden--for fresh dill pickles. |
Jesus used
this example about friendship to teach His followers about prayer. It’s not
about friendship—but about approaching God in prayer persistently. Treat God
like you would a friend…don’t give up asking Him. Don’t think that you can’t
approach Him with a genuine need—this person needed food for his friend who
came to visit. What do you need? For what would you ask your friend or
neighbor? A cup of sugar, some eggs, a loaf of bread…some dill from their
garden so you can make some dill pickles?
Friendship’s
sake. What loyalty do you have to your friends? What loyalty do your friends
have to you? Jesus told His disciples that a true friend would lay down his
life for his friends.
There is no greater love than to
lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13
That is a
very loyal friend. Life. Death. All that life means. Love for friends and for
God. So back to God…talking to Him…listening to Him. That is what prayer is. Conversing
with the greatest power in the universe. He is always listening…always ready to
provide the true answer. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And His
loyalty is with His friends who obey Him. Be persistent in your prayers to Him.He wants that persistence.
Prayer ~ Jesus, Thank You for Your
loyalty…for Your lesson of persistent prayer. Always teaching…useful things and
providing spiritual food...that bread of life. Give us this day our daily
bread.
Daily
Bible Reading: 2 Kings19; Psalms 48, 80, 135
© 2018 Text and
photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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