Sunday, July 24, 2016

24 July 2016 - persistence



We are called to care about the world around us and to intercede for it. Even if the world very much seems like Sodom we are not thereby permitted to ignore it or to not care about it. Instead we must be like Abraham and intercede with the LORD for it. The LORD himself wants our hearts to be merciful and compassionate as is Abraham's. He wants to draw from us this love he wants to show the world.

But we can do better than Abraham. His persistence is hindered and slowed by the fact that he knows that he is but dust and ashes. The friend who goes for the loaves of bread at midnight has to annoy his friend into getting up and giving him the loaves. We can do better. We do not ask a friend who is too tired to care. Nor are we merely dust and ashes. We are children of the Father. This is the first thing we remember when we pray.

Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.

Because we are children of the Father to whom we pray we are able to persist even more than Abraham or the man in the parable. We have much more trust in the love of the Father for us. We believe he desires what is good for his people.

If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

We already know the power of his love for us.

And even when you were dead
in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross.

Because we know what God does for us, and how important it is, we are even more compelled to share that mercy with others.

and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,

So let us listen to the promise that always sounds too good to be true. But let us listen as children of the Father. Let us remember that nothing is too good for him to give to his children. Having given us his Son will he not also give us all things as well?

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32).

Let us hear the promise with the confidence that only the love of the Father can give us.

And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. 
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

It isn't always immediate. But we can persist because of the confidence we have in his love.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.


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