Day 52

Luke 11:5–13 (NIV)

⁵ Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶ because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷ “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

What is suppose to be your attitude as you approach God in prayer?

What does this story tell you about God’s attitude toward you as you pray to Him?

What does it mean that God gives you the good gift of the Holy Spirit when you ask?

Notes

Question is not only what to pray (verses 1-4) but the next part of how to pray is answered. What is your attitude as you pray. What Jesus says is surprising in some ways. You are dealing with this God who is different than you. Who you should respect exceedingly more than anyone else. Yet Jesus tells in these stories that you should approach God with boldness, you cannot irritate God by asking for things in His will. He wants you to come to Him!

The first parable contrast the attitude of a neighbor who is woken up in the night for help with food, to God's attitude of desiring to help.

In the parable a visitor comes in unexpectedly. Hospitality culture demands not only that the guest be put up for the night but also fed. The problem is there is no bread. So the man goes and wakes a neighbor for bread. This would happen! It would be worse to be inhospitable than to wake up a neighbor.

The neighbor doesn't want to help. To get up would mean waking his whole house. (most houses were 1 room with people sleeping on movable pallets). But Jesus says you ask long enough the man is going to get up and get you what you want because it is the only way you will leave him alone.

Jesus then contrast that to God. If you ask in boldness to a irritated neighbor and he will give you what you need, then surely a God who loves and is ready to respond will Give what you need. Key is to ask, seek, knock- It is not about waiting on God it is about God waiting on you to see that you need something from Him. He is willing to give it but you must be open to see you need it!

Jesus goes further to illustrate the point by contrasting a human father to the heavenly Father (vs 2) If you human fathers, inspite of your sinfulness watch out and care for your children, then how much more will a Holy Father do it?

Interesting that He uses "give the Holy Spirit" as the good gift. It is not about things; it is about God dwelling in our lives as we live. God wanting us to have more and more of the kingdom in our lives despite living in this world. God wanting us to have more of Him in us!