Persistence

Dear brothers and sisters,

It seems that any time the subject of prayer comes up one of the references cited is what we know as The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6 or Luke 11).  This is as it should be for no one is more qualified to teach on the subject than Jesus Christ. These words have been read in my hearing in varying degrees of expression from poetic recitations to resounding baritone pontifications on the piety of praying in an orderly manner.  The problem is that in these discussions the reading of the scripture usually ends with the last line of the prayer itself.  This is a real shame, because when we do this we miss a lot of what Jesus was teaching us about prayer.  I would focus today on the Luke 11 teaching and perhaps write about Matthew 6 at a later date.

The four point prayer that Jesus prays in Luke 11:2-4 is very familiar to most of us.  If it isn’t please go there for a refresher.  This prayer is spoken by Jesus in response to a request made by His disciples for instruction on prayer after a time observing Jesus pray.  Please notice as you read this that the teaching does not end with the prayer itself (verse 4), indeed, it seems like Jesus takes a deep breath just after the prayer, then launches into a parable on persistence.  As the parable comes to an end He makes the statement, “…even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence will he get up and give him as much as he needs.”  Luke 11:8b NASB (you need to go read the whole story right now for yourself.  Luke 11:5-8)  The point Jesus is making here is that you are not done when you recite or even pattern a lengthier prayer after a four point outline, it is in fact, only the beginning.  When you have fully allowed the picture of persistence Jesus presents here to come to maturity in your mind and heart read the next section Luke 11:9-14 with that level of persistence as a perspective.  I wonder how often God has wanted to give us good things but somehow we knock once or twice and lose interest, or, maybe we just stopped reading at verse 4.

In I Thessalonians 5:17 the Apostle Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” and there are many other references to the necessity of constant communication with God in the Christian’s life.  My prayer is that when we see Jesus’ teaching on prayer as a whole it will bring forth the fruit in our lives He intended.  The disciples learned the lesson they were taught. In Acts 1:14 it says that they prayed continuously in a group of 120 people in the upper room until the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. I wonder what would happen if the church of today would persist in prayer in like manner.

His Kid, Your Brother

Ken