Daily Thought

The Lord here encourages His followers to pray persistently, earnestly and determinedly; to pray with their heart in it.

Sometimes we are tempted in this matter of intercession and petition to give up; to ask for a while and then to forget the matter. The Lord enjoins us to keep on asking, seeking, knocking. God rewards those who are in earnest, for they are like Himself: He seeks the sheep until He finds it. The man in the parable is displeased at being asked for bread at midnight, whereas God is surely pleased when we supplicate His throne of grace. He is the only One who has the resources available. If we do not obtain from Him, we shall not obtain at all. All depends upon Him. So, we can sow, but God alone can give the increase; we can labour, but He alone can build the house, 1 Cor. 3. 6; Ps. 127. 1. Are any of us sufficient? To meet the spiritual needs of others; as an elder, parent, Sunday school teacher, preacher etc., we must petition the throne of grace.

In the story, the man goes to a friend to obtain supplies for another friend. He asks, seeks, knocks until he obtains ‘as many [loaves] as he needeth’; which is what he asked for, v. 5. The man clearly did not have what was needed, nor do we. We have nothing to set before the people; but God has! The feeding of the five thousand also illustrates this truth. Additionally, we learn to come for others here, on their behalf.

Verses 9 and 10 are wonderful promises. ‘The Lord double clasps His exhortations with assurances that “every one that asketh receiveth”, etc. What a door is opened for us here, and what possibility of blessing is here unfolded! How rich may we all be, if we only will be, and what free leave we have to covet the best things!’, F. W. GRANT.

Is there ever an inopportune moment with God? Here the man goes ‘at midnight’. We ought always to pray and not to faint, Luke 18. 1. Examples in scripture include the Syrophenician woman, Matt. 15. 21-28; the blind man in Jericho, Luke 18. 35-43; and Epaphras, Col. 4. 12.

‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints’, Eph. 6. 18.