Jesus in the House--The Living Room
Prayer
Luke 11:1-13
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who know, the door will be opened.
We started a new series this week—Jesus in the house, it’s a metaphor for asking Jesus into our lives. Then he goes through our lives, room by room. We begin with the living room, asking Jesus to come in. He initiates it all by knocking, knocking on the door of our hearts and asking if he can come in. It’s that simple. Of course, it’s the living room. The conversation begins with small talk, simple things, talking about the stuff. But that’s how you begin—don’t spill your guts, that might come later.
Our passage was Luke 11:1-13. Jesus tells his disciples about prayer—a conversation between us and God. The disciples see Jesus pray, and they want to pray like him as well. You see Jesus was God’s son and he prayed that way, not with formality, no elaborate formality, but with an ease, a familiarity as if he knew God well. In prayer, Jesus talked with his father. He talked with one who he knew cared for him, who treasured him and desired the best for him. Jesus knew that he was beloved.
Then he tells a story about a couple of friends and a request that comes at midnight—surprise guests and the need to borrow some food. The love of a friend overcame his sleepiness, the inconvenience, the late hour. Jesus ends with a funny comparison about hungry children asking their father for food, and the absurdity of the father giving their child a snake or a scorpion, instead of food.
You see, in prayer, ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened. Why? Because the one listening to your prayers, the one you need to respond to you, he is your heavenly Father, a trusted friend. God loves you like his own child, like an old friend. He will give you what you need, show you where you should go, and open the door when you get there.
This whole teaching is Jesus’ encouragement for us to pray. Pray knowing that we are heard by one who loves us best, one who will give us what we need most. This is important to remember because we don’t have our prayers answered at the first request. Jesus tells us to pray and pray and pray, not with endless repetition, or formulas, or prayer wheels or flags on mountain tops. No pray to your heavenly Father who hears you the first time, in fact who knows what you need before you even ask for it. But our heavenly Father wants us to ask and ask, perhaps because of how this practice changes us, strengthens in us our desire for those things we need most. For the Holy Spirit to move in us and through us, to glorify his name, to bring others into his kingdom, to do God’s will, to provide for our needs, forgive our sins, and win our battle over the evil one that fights so desperately to pull us down.
So come into the living room, and talk with the one who loves you best.
He is risen,
James
Luke 11:1-13
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who know, the door will be opened.
We started a new series this week—Jesus in the house, it’s a metaphor for asking Jesus into our lives. Then he goes through our lives, room by room. We begin with the living room, asking Jesus to come in. He initiates it all by knocking, knocking on the door of our hearts and asking if he can come in. It’s that simple. Of course, it’s the living room. The conversation begins with small talk, simple things, talking about the stuff. But that’s how you begin—don’t spill your guts, that might come later.
Our passage was Luke 11:1-13. Jesus tells his disciples about prayer—a conversation between us and God. The disciples see Jesus pray, and they want to pray like him as well. You see Jesus was God’s son and he prayed that way, not with formality, no elaborate formality, but with an ease, a familiarity as if he knew God well. In prayer, Jesus talked with his father. He talked with one who he knew cared for him, who treasured him and desired the best for him. Jesus knew that he was beloved.
Then he tells a story about a couple of friends and a request that comes at midnight—surprise guests and the need to borrow some food. The love of a friend overcame his sleepiness, the inconvenience, the late hour. Jesus ends with a funny comparison about hungry children asking their father for food, and the absurdity of the father giving their child a snake or a scorpion, instead of food.
You see, in prayer, ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened. Why? Because the one listening to your prayers, the one you need to respond to you, he is your heavenly Father, a trusted friend. God loves you like his own child, like an old friend. He will give you what you need, show you where you should go, and open the door when you get there.
This whole teaching is Jesus’ encouragement for us to pray. Pray knowing that we are heard by one who loves us best, one who will give us what we need most. This is important to remember because we don’t have our prayers answered at the first request. Jesus tells us to pray and pray and pray, not with endless repetition, or formulas, or prayer wheels or flags on mountain tops. No pray to your heavenly Father who hears you the first time, in fact who knows what you need before you even ask for it. But our heavenly Father wants us to ask and ask, perhaps because of how this practice changes us, strengthens in us our desire for those things we need most. For the Holy Spirit to move in us and through us, to glorify his name, to bring others into his kingdom, to do God’s will, to provide for our needs, forgive our sins, and win our battle over the evil one that fights so desperately to pull us down.
So come into the living room, and talk with the one who loves you best.
He is risen,
James
posted by Scribe @ 12:36 PM
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