Luke 11:9-13 (New Living Translation)
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
These verses come in the context of Jesus teaching on prayer. Jesus moves from teaching us how to pray into encouraging us to keep on praying. He tells us:
Keep on asking!
Keep on seeking!
Keep on knocking!
Keep on keeping on - don't stop. Pray without ceasing.
How often do we stop seeking God because the answers don't arrive within our designated time-frame? - too often. Giving up in prayer has become our habit!
Perhaps this is why Jesus encourages us to persevere.
Jesus (the Son) then discloses vital information about the character of God (the Father). Jesus knows what he's talking about because his whole life is in dee intimacy with the father. He tells us that God desires to give to us even more than other fathers - even an evil father will give to their kids. Interesting that Jesus refers to 'evil fathers' - perhaps he's aware that we have created mental barriers in our minds towards God because of our hurts and disappointments. Jesus knows that we have each resented God, questioned God and doubted who he is - we have at times thought of him as 'evil', mean and harsh.
Yet Jesus shows us a different Father - a Father who will give if we keep on asking. A father we will find when we seek (cf, the lost son - luke 15). A Father who will open doors when we keep on knocking. A Father who will give us his very own Holy Spirit if we ask.
Are we asking, seeking and knocking to the Holy Spirit's presence and power in our lives?
How ardent is our desire for God's presence in our lives?
Where do we need to fix our relationship with God so that we can come to him as loving Father?
Will we persever in our talking with God until we see answers come down?
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened"
Showing posts with label perseverance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perseverance. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
adventure
Following Jesus is an adventure!! Oh yes, and adventures are fabulous...
...to watch!
But participating in an adventure is a whole different ball-game. you see, to be in an adventure is to experience the exhileration of the highs and to know implicitly to lows as well.
Too many of us Christians have preached and been told that following Jesus is the adventure of a lifetime that will transforn our lkives so that we will ne 'set free' from anything that's negative. This message sounds great - it's good news - but it's not the message Jesus taught. One only has to look at the gospels to see that Jesus taught a hard gospel.
"Take up your cross and follow me"
"In this life you will face hardships"
"Count the cost"
These are just a few examples of Jesus' claim that following him would not be easy. Read Paul's account of his life. for the sake of the Gospel he was beaten, shipwrecked, attacked by bandits, forsaken by other believers, imprisoned, martyred! The bible does not teach that a life of faith in Jesus Christ will be easy, but it does say that it is possible. Following jesus takes guts, perseverance and character - a character that he builds within us on the way.
Are you experiencing the rugged side of following Jesus? Fix your eyes on him. Are you tired and burdened? Throw your burdens on him. He's with you now. He see your struggles and he's cheering you on. Run the race with perseverance and see the prise of knowing him more now and being with him in eternity. So, fix your eyres on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. He's with you leading, guiding and working to see you finish following well.
Blessings in Christ to you all.
...to watch!
But participating in an adventure is a whole different ball-game. you see, to be in an adventure is to experience the exhileration of the highs and to know implicitly to lows as well.
Too many of us Christians have preached and been told that following Jesus is the adventure of a lifetime that will transforn our lkives so that we will ne 'set free' from anything that's negative. This message sounds great - it's good news - but it's not the message Jesus taught. One only has to look at the gospels to see that Jesus taught a hard gospel.
"Take up your cross and follow me"
"In this life you will face hardships"
"Count the cost"
These are just a few examples of Jesus' claim that following him would not be easy. Read Paul's account of his life. for the sake of the Gospel he was beaten, shipwrecked, attacked by bandits, forsaken by other believers, imprisoned, martyred! The bible does not teach that a life of faith in Jesus Christ will be easy, but it does say that it is possible. Following jesus takes guts, perseverance and character - a character that he builds within us on the way.
Are you experiencing the rugged side of following Jesus? Fix your eyes on him. Are you tired and burdened? Throw your burdens on him. He's with you now. He see your struggles and he's cheering you on. Run the race with perseverance and see the prise of knowing him more now and being with him in eternity. So, fix your eyres on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. He's with you leading, guiding and working to see you finish following well.
Blessings in Christ to you all.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
simple and hard
I was reminded today that following Jesus is not always an easy thing to do. As you read through the gospels and take in the things Jesus said you see that they are very simple requests:
Love your neighbour
love your enemy
follow me
bless those who persecute you
Go...
preach the good news
These are not hard to understand, but they can be hard to live out - How do you follow someone you can't even see? How can you love when you are emotionally ship-wrecked? How can you love when you feel like hating? How do you bless when you don't feel blessed?
Following Jesus sounds simple, but can be very hard. we're asked even by Christ to 'count the cost' and to 'take up our cross'. There are amazing times when it's all sunshine and smiles and times when we feel like we're trudging for miles in the slough of despondancy. It takes faith to take this jouney of following Jesus. Faith hopes for what it does not see and helps us carry what we cannot bear. Faith unites us with Christ who says 'come to me all of you who are tired and heavy-laden'.
Does following Jesus seem hard? simply put, have faith and keep on. It's simple, it's hard and it takes faith. He never said it would be easy, but we'll get there with his help. We might be following him, but in a mystical way...
...he's also walking with us.
Love your neighbour
love your enemy
follow me
bless those who persecute you
Go...
preach the good news
These are not hard to understand, but they can be hard to live out - How do you follow someone you can't even see? How can you love when you are emotionally ship-wrecked? How can you love when you feel like hating? How do you bless when you don't feel blessed?
Following Jesus sounds simple, but can be very hard. we're asked even by Christ to 'count the cost' and to 'take up our cross'. There are amazing times when it's all sunshine and smiles and times when we feel like we're trudging for miles in the slough of despondancy. It takes faith to take this jouney of following Jesus. Faith hopes for what it does not see and helps us carry what we cannot bear. Faith unites us with Christ who says 'come to me all of you who are tired and heavy-laden'.
Does following Jesus seem hard? simply put, have faith and keep on. It's simple, it's hard and it takes faith. He never said it would be easy, but we'll get there with his help. We might be following him, but in a mystical way...
...he's also walking with us.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
hard times require hard - huh?!
Life is made of ups and downs. The question is Will we follow Jesus when life throws a wobbly?
My experiences have shown me that life is not always sunshine and smiles. It can be darkness and worry-lines across our brows. So how do we follow Jesus in these times? A look at the garden of Gethsemene shows us an important principle:
Jesus is having his 'dark night of the soul' and is at the pub drowning out his reality. No no no!!! He is in the garden calling out to God in prayer. He pours his anguished heart out to God while his disciples are sleeping their worries away (knowing now he may die).
Life is hard sometimes and Jesus shows us in the garden that we need to be staying close to our heavenly father during such times. The apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7,
Do not be worried about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition present your requests to God with thanksgiving
he goes on to tell us that,
the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
In dark and hard times hold on. Look to your heavenly father through prayer. call out to him until His prefect peace fills your heart. It's not easy, but neither is taking up a cross. Jesus has walked the path you now tread - follow him through your valleys as well as onto the mountain tops.
every blessing in Christ with peace to you.
My experiences have shown me that life is not always sunshine and smiles. It can be darkness and worry-lines across our brows. So how do we follow Jesus in these times? A look at the garden of Gethsemene shows us an important principle:
Jesus is having his 'dark night of the soul' and is at the pub drowning out his reality. No no no!!! He is in the garden calling out to God in prayer. He pours his anguished heart out to God while his disciples are sleeping their worries away (knowing now he may die).
Life is hard sometimes and Jesus shows us in the garden that we need to be staying close to our heavenly father during such times. The apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7,
Do not be worried about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition present your requests to God with thanksgiving
he goes on to tell us that,
the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
In dark and hard times hold on. Look to your heavenly father through prayer. call out to him until His prefect peace fills your heart. It's not easy, but neither is taking up a cross. Jesus has walked the path you now tread - follow him through your valleys as well as onto the mountain tops.
every blessing in Christ with peace to you.
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