Scripture
This final parable of the Pentecost series is from Luke. It follows
right after Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer and highlights the responsiveness
of God to our needs.
And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend,
and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of
bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.”
And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been
locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you
anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything
because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up
and give him whatever he needs. So I say to you, Ask, and it will
be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened
for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches
finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is
there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake
instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a
scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask him!’ (Luke 11:5-13)
Conversation starters
We hear about someone who goes to a friend at midnight
asking for bread. This seems an odd time to be asking for food and perhaps
that’s the point. There is no bad time to come to God in prayer with our needs.
Jesus notes, because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever
he needs.
Jesus then goes on to encourage us to ask, search, and
knock, for everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds,
and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. We are reminded that
we do not withhold good things from our children, and therefore, how much
more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
Sometimes we forget that and think some things are too big
or too little to bother God about. “My need for a job is insignificant when
there are so many dying in wars,” we may think. Or “God won’t care about my
fear over the upcoming surgery, so I won’t pray.”
Like a loving parent, God wants us to bring our concerns and
needs. Like the homeowner, he will take note of our needs and respond. I will
note that God’s timeline for response may not match my timeline. I “want what I
want when I want it” as the 1905 operetta Mlle. Modiste states. God
knows what we really need and the timing of responding to that. It may seem
God, like the homeowner is saying, Do not bother me; the door has already
been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you
anything. But, God will respond in our best interest.
Action Item
What are some things you hesitate to ‘bother’ God with?
To help you visualize the parable, you might draw 3 loaves
of bread and write on each one something you want to pray for or about. Add
this to your daily prayer routine.
