{"id":1513,"date":"2017-02-01T11:54:19","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T16:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anglicanconnection.com\/?p=1513"},"modified":"2017-02-01T14:17:56","modified_gmt":"2017-02-01T19:17:56","slug":"how-much-more-can-i-trust-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anglicanconnection.com\/how-much-more-can-i-trust-god\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018HOW MUCH MORE\u2026?\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Can I trust God to give me good things I ask for?\u2019<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In an important section on prayer in Luke\u2019s Gospel Jesus\u00a0responded to his disciples\u2019 question to teach them to pray with what we call\u00a0The Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/i>\u00a0(Luke 11:2-4). He then anticipated two questions we have: 1.\u00a0\u2018Can God be trusted to answer our prayers?\u2019<\/b>\u00a02.\u00a0\u2018Can we trust him to give us good things?\u2019<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to our first question Jesus told a parable, sometimes called\u00a0The Friend at Midnight\u00a0<\/i>(Luke 11:5-8). The parable has an underlying, unspoken question: \u2018Can you imagine\u2026?\u2019 In this case, Jesus was asking, \u2018Can you imagine a man speaking this way to a needy friend?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

HONORING GOD’S NAME<\/h2>\n

The story captures village life in Jesus\u2019 world where hospitality is an unwritten law: No matter the hour or the inconvenience, neighbors are required to assist one another when they are in need. If they don\u2019t provide assistance, they bring dishonor to their own name and the name of the community. \u2018Can you imagine,\u2019 Jesus is asking, \u2018Anyone saying to a neighbor in need, even at midnight, \u2018Get lost\u2019, \u2018Don\u2019t disturb me\u2019? The response would be a unanimous, \u201cNo!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Translations since the 12<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0century have not helped us understand this parable. In recent times scholars such as J. Jeremias have recognized that the original words usually translated\u00a0boldness\u00a0<\/i>or\u00a0persistence\u00a0<\/i>do not reflect the meaning of the original word. Indeed, Kenneth Bailey has pointed out that the word\u00a0is better translated,\u00a0sense of shame<\/i>.\u00a0The original word literally carries the meaning,\u00a0avoidance of shame.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Middle-Eastern culture of hospitality (which still prevails), the flow of the personal pronoun\u00a0he<\/i>\u00a0in Luke 11:8, and the narrative impact of the story, lead us to the sleeper in bed as the focus of the story. The focus is not the man knocking on the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is not a parable about persistence. Rather\u00a0it is a parable about God and the honor of God\u2019s name<\/b>. The parable picks up words Jesus taught us to pray:\u00a0\u201cHallowed be your name\u201d<\/i>\u00a0(11:2). To pray for the honor of God\u2019s name is also consistent with the heart of Moses\u2019 prayer in Numbers 14:13-19). The theme of persistence in prayer is found in another parable (Luke 18:1-8).<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus promises that God, for the sake of the honor of his name, will not only hear our prayers, no matter how big or small, but he will also answer them. God\u2019s honor and integrity are at stake. We can trust God to hear and answer our prayers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus continues with three exhortations and promises:\u00a0\u201cAsk, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened for you\u201d<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i>(11:9-10).<\/i>\u00a0Our English word\u00a0\u2018Ask\u2019<\/i><\/b>\u00a0forms a mnemonic for these wonderful promises that we all too often overlook \u2013 they apply just as much to God\u2019s people as to genuine enquirers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Often I have encouraged people who find it difficult to believe to say, \u2018God, if you are there, please help me to find you\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

CAN I TRUST GOD TO GIVE ME GOOD THINGS?<\/h2>\n

Jesus also answers another question we often have:\u00a0\u2018Can I trust God to give me good things?\u2019<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

He uses two metaphors to assure us that God always has our best interests at heart (Luke 11:11-12). We can paraphrase his assurance this way: \u2018Just as the most violent thief can be kind to his son and the most mercenary-minded father can be generous to his daughter,\u00a0\u201cHow much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?\u201d<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i>(11:13).<\/span><\/p>\n

This must be one of the most profound promises that Jesus utters. He is telling us that God\u2019s great gift is to give us his Spirit who will open our minds to hear God\u2019s voice through his Word. The Spirit will open our hearts to God, enabling us to call God \u2018Father\u2019 through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit will open our lives to God, empowering us to trust him and follow him.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we think about it,\u00a0we are introduced here to the riches of God\u2019s work<\/b>: we can call God,\u00a0Father<\/i>; we learn from the Son who does all that is necessary for us to right our relationship with God once and for all time; we are drawn into the riches of a profound and true relationship with God through the wonderful gift of the Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it that we are content to play around the edges of a relationship with God who delights in giving his all for us? Why is our prayer life so often barren?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a9 John G. Mason<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2018Can I trust God to give me good things I ask for?\u2019 In an important section on prayer in Luke\u2019s Gospel Jesus\u00a0responded to his disciples\u2019 question to teach them to pray with what we call\u00a0The Lord\u2019s Prayer\u00a0(Luke 11:2-4). He then anticipated two questions we have: 1.\u00a0\u2018Can God be trusted to answer our prayers?\u2019\u00a02.\u00a0\u2018Can we trust […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-word-on-wednesday"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018HOW MUCH MORE\u2026?\u2019 - The Anglican Connection<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Can I trust God to give me good things I ask for when I pray? We can trust God to hear and answer our prayers. 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