Word@Work Luke181 - Luke 11:11-13
Published: Wed, 09/01/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
FATHERLY KINDNESS
Luke 11:11-13 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 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!" (NIV)
Is God good? Yes indeed! But in Jesus' day there was little confidence about that. The country was occupied by the Roman army, their taxes supported a pagan emperor and their king was a puppet ruler who had little interest in praying for God's Messiah to come. Their circumstances had defeated their confidence in God's Word. So, their religion was formal, their prayers were obligations and their hope was exhausted. That may be true of you also.
Jesus' teaching about the fatherliness of God was essential if the disciples were to learn to trust even when their circumstances were black. He argued that if sinful people can be kind to their children who ask for food, surely Father God will give the very best to those who ask Him. The Lord then went even further than promising 'daily bread' (as in Luke 11:3); He guaranteed that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to all those who asked Him. Those who were properly listening would have remembered Isaiah's prediction of Immanuel - meaning "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was Immanuel/Emmanuel, but soon He would be leaving them ... instead of leaving them as orphans He would ask the Father to send them the Holy Spirit to be with them for ever (John 14:16).
Prayer is about relationship. Certainly, requests and responses are a part of that, but when prayer is reduced to a shopping list we have missed the point. Father God wants us to have a family bond with Him, within which we can share our needs and He can be generous with His blessings. The Holy Spirit has been given so that we might know God's presence within us all the time, and learn from Him how to pray and live a life which pleases Him. Paul instructed the Ephesian church to 'keep on being filled with the Spirit' (Ephesians 5:18): so it is right that we should be bold, each day, to ask our Father to fill us with His Holy Spirit. If we are to be good disciples of Jesus and work with Him - we need to be filled full of His Holy Spirit who will bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If we, who are weak, know how to give good gifts, how much more will our Father give His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Today is a good day to ask!
Prayer: Dear Father God. Thank You for all Your love for me, and Your desire to bless me with the very best gifts to meet my need. I know my greatest need is to grow more like Jesus, and I need Your Holy Spirit's help to give me the desire and encouragement to live Your way. Forgive me for doubting Your goodness, for praying without trusting and for living without seeking Your company each day. Please fill me full again with Your Holy Spirit today, and help me to live the new life You have given me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Is God good? Yes indeed! But in Jesus' day there was little confidence about that. The country was occupied by the Roman army, their taxes supported a pagan emperor and their king was a puppet ruler who had little interest in praying for God's Messiah to come. Their circumstances had defeated their confidence in God's Word. So, their religion was formal, their prayers were obligations and their hope was exhausted. That may be true of you also.
Jesus' teaching about the fatherliness of God was essential if the disciples were to learn to trust even when their circumstances were black. He argued that if sinful people can be kind to their children who ask for food, surely Father God will give the very best to those who ask Him. The Lord then went even further than promising 'daily bread' (as in Luke 11:3); He guaranteed that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to all those who asked Him. Those who were properly listening would have remembered Isaiah's prediction of Immanuel - meaning "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was Immanuel/Emmanuel, but soon He would be leaving them ... instead of leaving them as orphans He would ask the Father to send them the Holy Spirit to be with them for ever (John 14:16).
Prayer is about relationship. Certainly, requests and responses are a part of that, but when prayer is reduced to a shopping list we have missed the point. Father God wants us to have a family bond with Him, within which we can share our needs and He can be generous with His blessings. The Holy Spirit has been given so that we might know God's presence within us all the time, and learn from Him how to pray and live a life which pleases Him. Paul instructed the Ephesian church to 'keep on being filled with the Spirit' (Ephesians 5:18): so it is right that we should be bold, each day, to ask our Father to fill us with His Holy Spirit. If we are to be good disciples of Jesus and work with Him - we need to be filled full of His Holy Spirit who will bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If we, who are weak, know how to give good gifts, how much more will our Father give His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Today is a good day to ask!
Prayer: Dear Father God. Thank You for all Your love for me, and Your desire to bless me with the very best gifts to meet my need. I know my greatest need is to grow more like Jesus, and I need Your Holy Spirit's help to give me the desire and encouragement to live Your way. Forgive me for doubting Your goodness, for praying without trusting and for living without seeking Your company each day. Please fill me full again with Your Holy Spirit today, and help me to live the new life You have given me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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