It’s Good Friday here in the Philippines, but I won’t reflect on today’s event, but rather on a passage that we discussed on our Friday Prayer meeting at the Church (March 26, 2010).
5Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7“Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
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.10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him 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? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If 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)
There were two things we can see on this passage.
Importunity
When defined, “Unreasonableness; an unsuitable or inappropriate time; A constant and insistent demanding”. This was the word used on the King James Version on verse 8. It wasn’t actually the friendship that pushed the man to get up and give his friend bread, but rather the friend’s ‘continual asking’ for bread. When he was turned down, he didn’t lose hope and he continued to knock on the door. We don’t know how long he knocked, but for sure he knocked and asked until his friend gave in, probably realizing how this man is in deep need. Take note, it wasn’t the friendship that was considered here, it was the asker’s continuous asking.
Father and Child
Verses 11 – 13 shows a relationship of a father and a child when it comes to asking. For parents out there, you’ll definitely know what this passage says. I know you’ll agree with me that sometimes, even though we had said no to our child about something that he asks, we do sometimes give in to what they ask. How much more if they were asking for something that isn’t bad. And we definitely want the best for our children.
Putting it all together
Knock, not just a single knock, but a continuous knock. Don’t just pray once, pray continuously. When we ask for something from God, and we weren’t able to get an answer right away, don’t stop, continue asking. Knock until the door is opened for you for he promised that he will open the door for us (verse 9b).
Do we even bother to knock, ask or seek? Many Christians now says “God already knows what I need”. Yes, that’s true, but he also said that we should ask for it. This is our act of faith to him. And like a father to his child, he will definitely listen to us. And we also forget that he is a “Father” to us, a Father who wants the best for his children. When we pray, pray to the “Father”, and like a child, be importunate, and be consistent. Don’t be discouraged easily. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.
God bless.
