Even More! : Luke 11:5-8 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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Even More! - Luke 11:5-8

Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house very late at night and said to him, 'A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.' Your friend inside the house answers, 'Go away! Don't bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.' I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

One of the ways the Rabbi's often reasoned with people in Jesus' day was by comparing a lesser thing with a greater one. In this example, Jesus uses this same practice. He uses a principle of human perseverance with a neighbor and emphasizes that if this is true among human neighbors, how much more will it be true of our perseverance with requesting the action of God? If someone keeps asking, the person may grant the request just to avoid the embarrassment of not helping. If that is true of sinful people, how much more will we receive gracious things from our heavenly Father who longs to give good gifts to his children!

Today's Prayer

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Thank you, LORD God Almighty, for your generous grace that comes from your heart of love. In those times when prayer is hard and my frustrations mount, please help me persevere in prayer—especially when nothing seems to be happening, prayer doesn't seem very exciting, and I am discouraged. Give me the courage and conviction to keep praying. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

One time Jesus was praying in a place. When Jesus finished praying, one of his followers said to him, "John taught his followers how to pray. Lord, teach us how to pray too." Jesus said to the followers, "When you pray, pray like this: 'Father, we pray that your name will always be kept holy. We pray that your kingdom will come. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive us the sins we have done, because we forgive every person that has done wrong to us. And don't let us be tempted (tested).'" Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house very late at night and said to him, 'A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.' Your friend inside the house answers, 'Go away! Don't bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.' I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, if a person continues asking, that person will receive. If a person continues looking, that person will find. And if a person continues knocking, the door will open for that person. Does any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give his son a snake? No! You would give him a fish. Or, if your son asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion ? No! {You are like all other people}—you are evil. But you know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to those people that ask him."

— Luke 11:1-13 (ERV)

Comments on "Even More!":

Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. Jesus used this story to teach them: "Once there was a judge in a town. He did not care about God. The judge also did not care what people thought about him. In that same town there was a woman. Her husband was dead. The woman came many times to this judge and said, 'There is a man that is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!' But the judge did not want to help the woman. After a long time, the judge thought to himself, 'I don't care about God. And I don't care about what people think. But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I don't give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick!'" The Lord (Jesus) said, "Listen! {There is meaning} in what the bad judge said. God's people shout to him night and day. God will always give his people what is right. God will not be slow to answer his people. I tell you, God will help his people quickly! But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?" —Luke 18:1-8 (ERV)

Continue praying. And when you pray, always thank God. —Colossians 4:2 (ERV)

While Christ lived on earth he prayed to God and asked God for help. God is the One who could save him from death, and Jesus prayed to God with loud cries and tears. And God answered Jesus' prayers because Jesus was humble and did everything God wanted. —Hebrews 5:7 (ERV)