OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS, TRUST HIM

SCRIPTURE:

“Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.  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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one 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!” (Luke 11: 5—13 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            Jesus’ disciples wanted to know how to pray.  So, they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.   Jesus said when you pray, say this:

• Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name.  Pray is about a relationship.  The first word is Father; this is a special relationship, and I have been given the right to be a child of God.
• Prayer also recognizes that God is not just a Father to me; he is more than that.  He is God, who is holy and must be greatly revered.  Yes, he is my father, but I must also know that he is holy and greatly revered.  So, it is not just a casual relationship.
• My Father must be revered and honored because he is the King of a Kingdom that is to come.  It is mind-blowing to me that Jesus did not address him as King first but addressed him as Father. 
• God is my Father, who is Holy, and above all, he is my King.  And my King is my PROVIDER.  My King takes care of me daily and provides for my daily needs. 
• My Father, My King, My Provider is also the one who FORGIVES my sins

The rest of the story is a contrast between a somewhat reluctant friend who was unwilling to help his friend who had a guest who dropped by without notice.  But even though the friend will NOT get up and give the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you AS MUCH AS you need.  If by shameless audacity moved an unreluctantly friend.  How much more would God do, so willing as my Father, my King, my Provider, and the one who forgives my sin will do for me?  If this mere human being could get up because his friend was becoming a nuisance and give him as much as he needed, just imagine how much more my Heavenly Father would do for me. 

This is the point of what Jesus was saying to them: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.  Jesus is saying our heavenly is not reluctant to respond.  He will not consider us coming to him as a nuisance or intolerable.  He knows what to give to us.  He knows what we need.  He will give us good gifts or good things that he sees fit for our needs.   Therefore, I must keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, for my heavenly father knows the best for me.  He knows when to give, what to give, and what best fits my situation.  The only problem is, am I willing to receive the best gifts that God knows I need if he doesn’t give me exactly what I need? 

APPLICATION:

            I need to walk in the assurance and the confidence that my Heavenly Father deems best for me, which is what I must be content with.  I want to recognize that if a mere human can get up and help others, how much more so that my Father, my King, and Provider will do that for me?  I need to know and recognize that I have a powerful, amazing Father who loves and cares for me. 

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I am grateful for the reminder that you are more than able to handle anything that comes my way.  You are able to give the best gifts that best cover what we need.   

Please teach me to walk in faith and trust in your power to provide everything I need, whether it is good times or bad times.  I look to you as the one who knows how to give good gifts that are right for me.  Thank you for being my Father, my King, and my Provider.  I look to you as I journey this year for your goodness and mercy to follow me all the days of my life.  Amen!