January 13, 2020
Luke 11:9-12
“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.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.   “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? 
New International Version (NIV)
On the tombstone of a prominent Christian leader are inscribed two words:  “He prayed.”  Just so, prayer was so obviously a practice in Jesus’ life that his disciples saw him and asked him to teach them to pray. 

Jesus not only provided a pattern for prayer, in the Lord’s prayer, but he taught his disciples about prayer using examples.  If one continues to knock on the door of a friend, the friend will eventually get out of bed to share bread.  A father doesn’t give his children snakes when they ask for fish or scorpions when they ask for an egg.  In both examples, Jesus contrasted human response with heavenly response.  If a friend or a parent answers the request of another, how much more does our loving heavenly Father love to give good gifts to his children. 

I love the acronym found in these verses.  Ask.  Seek. Knock.  The first letters of the English words form the word ASK.  God wants us to ask.  Luke alone tells us that God will give us not only the stuff we seek, but his own Holy Spirit.  God is not so much interested in giving us things as he is in giving us himself.  In fact, God will never give us something without also accompanying the gift. 

So what is the singular characteristic which people will remember about our lives with God?  I had the privilege of attending the funeral for a wonderful pastor named Dan Yeary last week.  One of his sons remembered walking in on his father at prayer lifting up his children.  If our legacy is, “He prayed,” or “She prayed,” our heavenly Father has an even greater living legacy, “God answers!”  So we ought to pray today!
Pray with me:       
Father, we confess we are novices at prayer.  After all these years, we should be better at praying than we are.  Still you invite us to come to you, to keep coming like a hungry neighbor needing food for his family and guests, or like a child who wants a fish or an egg.  You already know what we most need today.  We can’t live by bread alone.  So give us yourself God.  Whatever else you give, please give us an awareness of your providential Presence today.  No matter what else happens, you will surely be more than enough for us today.  In Jesus’ name.   Amen.  
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:5-6
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.

Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 

About Duane Archives
Subscribe to our email list.