A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the
verses.)
Luke 11:1-13
[During the first century, it was common
for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of
Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some
element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things
people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]
As she got older,
she matured and became more sophisticated. In her teens, she actually wrote a
proposal listing all the benefits of buying contact lenses for her. And then she
pitched it to me. Not surprisingly, her career is in marketing.
Jesus’ disciples
asked him to teach them how to pray – a rote prayer like the ones you learn as
a child. So, he gave them the words of what we know as the Lord’s Prayer. By
doing this, he gave them the technical ability to pray, but because he wanted
to teach them more than just words, he also told them a parable.
It was about a man
whose friend was on a journey, and unexpectedly stopped late at night for a visit.
Hospitality was very important in that culture, so it would have been
unthinkable to not feed his guest. However, he had no food.
Therefore, at
midnight, he knocked on the door of a friend to ask for bread. As you might
guess the friend was asleep and wasn’t happy to be rudely awakened. He wouldn’t
even come to the door. Then Jesus said this to his disciples.
8 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. NLT
Jesus was telling
his disciples, and telling us, to do whatever it takes. Don’t give up. Keep
praying.
It’s easy to not
pray; to find a reason to avoid knocking on the door of your friend at
midnight. Our human nature doesn’t like to admit that we need help. The thought
is, “I can do this by myself, thank you very much. I don’t need anybody’s
help”.
“Shameless persistence” – not to do it on our own, but to ask for
God’s help… our heavenly Father… Abba. And if we do, there’s a promise.
9 “And
so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on
seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to
you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone
who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. NLT
Ask, seek, knock…
“I beg, I get”. Pretty good insight from a child.
***
15 Anyone
with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Matthew
11 NLT
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