By Brooke Holt
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’” Luke 11:10-13
No one knew the Father’s heart as Jesus did. Jesus never wondered if God loved him or had a good plan for his life. Jesus knew God was perfect in every way and perfect in love toward all he created. Jesus came to reveal this heart of the Father to mankind. He longed for all people to know they were created in God’s image, created in love and for love. Though they lived in a sinful, broken world, there was a perfect plan of redemption and restoration.
In our passage for today, Jesus has just taught his disciples how to pray. He follows that prayer lesson with this assurance. When you come to the Lord in prayer, he hears you and stands ready to receive your requests. He loves it when you seek him and longs for you to find him. When you knock on his door, he is always ready to open it for you. You are always welcome and wanted!
Beyond this glorious reception of the Father is an unusual contrast between God’s nature and humankind. If earthly and sinful parents know how to give good gifts to our children, God, the perfect heavenly Father, knows how to answer his children’s requests in the right way and time. A perfect God has a perfect response to your every prayer. Just think about that.
Does that mean God is your genie in the sky, ready to grant all your requests? Absolutely not! It means God is good even when you can’t see, know, or understand his answer (or seeming lack of). He is for you. He works out all things for his glory and your good (see Romans 8:28). It also means the Lord hears you, sees every tear, and knows your deepest needs and wants. He cares about you and all those things in your life.
Even when you think he has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, the Lord’s eyes are on you (see 1 Peter 3:12). The Lord has good gifts for you. Those gifts begin with the Holy Spirit he pours into your heart. That Spirit is there to teach you his ways, empower you for every good work, transform you to become more like Jesus, and remind you of who you are to him—precious, holy, and beloved.
What good gifts does God have for you today? Maybe he is not answering your prayers as you would like, but God’s invitation to you is to open your hands to release your desires, plans, and expectations and then receive what he has for you. Jesus reminds you today that God sees, knows, and loves you with perfect, steadfast love. You can trust him!
Reflection:
What is God inviting you to release to him today, then what is God inviting you to receive from him today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian small group Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!
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