Luke 11:5-8
5 And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” 7And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: What does this parable have to say to the song "What a friend we have in Jesus"?
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7 comments:
This reminds me of a sermon where the congregation was asked who was the one they would turn to and who they depend on to be the one to be there for them? I remember thinking first, well, my husband of course, but then, thought, there are times that I had been disappointed by his reaction or lack there of. And then I thought of how I turn to prayer for patience and understanding, and HE(Jesus) was there, listening, and I felt peace. Those we count on to fill our needs can disappoint due to the human nature, this includes myself as well. But as the song "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" suggests, HE is there, to share in all burdens. No matter how wonderful the friend(as is my husband), Jesus is the ultimate one who will listen and give us peace in our times of need.
I have read through the gospels many times, but seem to have forgotten this parable! Interesting twist to put on it PJ by asking the question of the friend of have in Jesus. It is so true Jesus is our ultimate friend! The interesting thing is at the end of this parable it states, "at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs." There may be things that in our lives we feel like our friend Jesus should be giving to us now, but he does not feel like we need it yet and so he does not "get up and give it to us". However, He is a Big God and can do big things and if we continually pray and talk with Him eventually His time maybe right and he will "get up and give US whatever we need". Notice also that it is a NEED not a WANT! Jesus provides us daily with our NEEDS and yes I feel He throws in some of those 'extras' too :) But He knows and sees all of ours needs and will provide just that! Amazing that Someone does always know our needs even if we don't!! Praise be to God!!!!
Sower and KevKat, I feel have hit the focus. And the probably did so without cheating like me. The parable comes immediately after Jesus teaches his disciples the Lords Prayer. The parable shows what happens with persistence in asking/prayer. The following two verses after the parable are the lyrics to another favorite song of mine---"Seek ye first". For those who pray will receive, find, and doors are opened.
Interesting observation on the need and want KevKat! Some pretty insightful stuff from everyone. My head this week has been filled with the words of PJs song "O Lord Hear Me" Only you, oh Lord can bring us back!
What a bold guy the asker is! Do we as Christians dare to be this bold in our prayers to our Father.Listen to me God and I want an answer now! We as His children are being used for His will. Let us be the means of this will.God wake up and listen to me now!! I want an answer. Wake up God, just care. Not ashaimed, presistant, knock on heavens gates, people.
Some great comments...as usual.
It seems to me that the point of this parable is that if a person will respond to a friend who persists, even in the middle of the night, we can trust that God, whose love is greater than human love, will answer us, even without persistence, in the darkest night.
The reason that I posed the discussion question is that it is important to remember that Jesus is the kind of friend who isn't swayed by the number of people who pray, by the selection of people who pray, by the number of times a person prays, or by specificity of the prayer....these are the kind of things a human friend is swayed by. Rather, Jesus is swayed by one thing, and one thing only, the love he has in his heart for the one who is praying, and it is such a love that one prayer, by the smallest of people, spoken in simple words will be answered.
So, if that is the case, why do we pray for people in worship? Why do we have prayer chains? (Both, by the way, have a good purpose in our prayer life, I believe.)
WOW!
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