PESTERING GOD
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
When we first look at the parable Jesus taught in Luke 11:1-13 "the friend at Midnight" we may see several things both in the one who was being awakened and in the one knocking on the door to receive.
1. We can see someone who was in great need in the neighbor who was seeking bread for guests that had just arrived. This same theme is used over and over again concerning people being in need...the Maidens with their lamps running out of oil...the widow who came before a judge asking for him avenge her...all of these different situations, and all of them with great needs. We too are very needy even though we do not realize it. Our need is for salvation and being drawn closer to God as we travel in life. The need is great, and our life is so precious that we cannot afford to play with it carelessly. These needs are dealt with by Christ in different ways; the friend through compassion because of having a relationship with his neighbor helped him and saw to the need. The maidens were not helped because they took the duty too lightly to prepare themselves knowing what they would need. The widow by keeping the situation in front of the judge and constant nagging wore the judge down to give her what she wanted just to be rid of her. The kind of communication we have with God gives us a very good indication of the kind of relationships we have as well with Him.
2. Prayerlessness is an insult to God, and every prayer less day indicates that we have chosen to say that we do not need or want God to be a part of our lives or of any kind of solution to the problems we have. Every time we do not pray we fall into an idolatry of putting something else into the place where God should be in life. When ever we begin to lean on our own understanding and wisdom in life rather than to go to God's perfect wisdom we become more foolish, and further away from His presence. Many people take charge instead of taking something to prayer and that short circuit's the working of God in our life. Neglect of prayer then is not just a weakness on our part, but it becomes a sin of self will, and a choice to stay away from God. We don't realize many times that we are even making that choice. Have you ever seen a small child pulling on the shirttail of their father as they walked through a store? They are trying to get their father's attention to ask for something. We are much that same way in the ways we talk to God, but it is time to start to grow up.
3. If we are going to really get God's ear we need to deal with our love for Him...our belief in Him and the trust we have for His advice. We ask for things over and over again without listening to what God has to say about it. God always answers our prayers but not always the ways we want them answered. The truth is that if we have a relationship with God in the first place we are more likely to receive what we ask for because we won't be asking for silly things. When we start to grow up we will begin to see the bigger picture where we are not the center of the universe, and we will begin to ask God to help us find ways to answer the prayers of others through His Spirit. This does not mean that we will be pestering God less, but it does mean that we will have a purpose in our requests, and that God will see to all of the needs that we may have in this life. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
When we first look at the parable Jesus taught in Luke 11:1-13 "the friend at Midnight" we may see several things both in the one who was being awakened and in the one knocking on the door to receive.
1. We can see someone who was in great need in the neighbor who was seeking bread for guests that had just arrived. This same theme is used over and over again concerning people being in need...the Maidens with their lamps running out of oil...the widow who came before a judge asking for him avenge her...all of these different situations, and all of them with great needs. We too are very needy even though we do not realize it. Our need is for salvation and being drawn closer to God as we travel in life. The need is great, and our life is so precious that we cannot afford to play with it carelessly. These needs are dealt with by Christ in different ways; the friend through compassion because of having a relationship with his neighbor helped him and saw to the need. The maidens were not helped because they took the duty too lightly to prepare themselves knowing what they would need. The widow by keeping the situation in front of the judge and constant nagging wore the judge down to give her what she wanted just to be rid of her. The kind of communication we have with God gives us a very good indication of the kind of relationships we have as well with Him.
2. Prayerlessness is an insult to God, and every prayer less day indicates that we have chosen to say that we do not need or want God to be a part of our lives or of any kind of solution to the problems we have. Every time we do not pray we fall into an idolatry of putting something else into the place where God should be in life. When ever we begin to lean on our own understanding and wisdom in life rather than to go to God's perfect wisdom we become more foolish, and further away from His presence. Many people take charge instead of taking something to prayer and that short circuit's the working of God in our life. Neglect of prayer then is not just a weakness on our part, but it becomes a sin of self will, and a choice to stay away from God. We don't realize many times that we are even making that choice. Have you ever seen a small child pulling on the shirttail of their father as they walked through a store? They are trying to get their father's attention to ask for something. We are much that same way in the ways we talk to God, but it is time to start to grow up.
3. If we are going to really get God's ear we need to deal with our love for Him...our belief in Him and the trust we have for His advice. We ask for things over and over again without listening to what God has to say about it. God always answers our prayers but not always the ways we want them answered. The truth is that if we have a relationship with God in the first place we are more likely to receive what we ask for because we won't be asking for silly things. When we start to grow up we will begin to see the bigger picture where we are not the center of the universe, and we will begin to ask God to help us find ways to answer the prayers of others through His Spirit. This does not mean that we will be pestering God less, but it does mean that we will have a purpose in our requests, and that God will see to all of the needs that we may have in this life. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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