Coffee With The Lord

But God is divine! And there is a wonderful passage in Scripture that draws on this analogy, both by contrast and comparison! It is a passage that reveals the wonderful character of our Heavenly Father (a “Father,” incidentally with no human frailty and flaw!)…
First the issue of repeated asking… “impudence” in making a request…

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his IMPUDENCE he will rise and give him whatever he needs.” (ESV)

With God, persistence pays off! Don’t give up – keep asking! He won’t get angry (remember He’s divine!)

Then the issue of God’s pure, compassionate, character – interested only in “good gifts” for His children…

“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 [“good gifts” in Matthew 7:11] to those who ask him!” (ESV)

And then what ties both analogies together… an analogy of persistence (or even “impudence”) and one of a generous, caring parent…

“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. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened!” (NLT)
(From Luke 11:5-13)

Wow! What a wonderful, gracious, good Heavenly Father. Even superior to the best human parents anyone has ever had! So keep asking… and trust the fundamental goodness of His character. He really wants what is best for you!

Jesus had been asked by an authority in religious matters, “Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (It was kind of a cynical, setup question designed to trip Jesus up.) Jesus reversed the question and asked him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

He answered, “You, shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your NEIGHBOR (there’s that word) as yourself.”
Jesus told him, “Do that, and you will live.”

The authority in religious matters, wasn’t satisfied – he apparently wanted to get off the hook on this “neighbor” thing. So he said, “And who is my neighbor?”

And then through a story Jesus told (called a “parable”) we get Jesus’ definition of a “neighbor.”

A man was traveling the dangerous road to Jericho. Robbers attacked the man, beat him, left him nearly dead and stripped him of everything he had. A priest came by and completely avoids getting involved. Another religious leader comes over, at least looks at the guy, and then goes on – apparently feeling that he can’t do anything. But a guy that Jews hated – a “Samaritan” (sometimes called a “dog” by Jews) had compassion, dressed the guys wounds, puts him on his donkey, took him to the inn where he could be cared for, payed his bill and promises to check up on him! (What a guy, eh?)

And then Jesus asked a key question that gives us Jesus’ concept of “neighbor!” He asked the religious leader, “Which of these three, do you think PROVED to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” And he was forced to answer, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Wow! It’s not just the people living in a house or apartment next door, or even in my HOA… A “neighbor” isn’t just the people I like or people who are like me (the ones who go to my church, vote like I do, speak my language, share my values, or have skin my color). Jesus’ definition embraces ANYONE… that’s right ANYONE… who needs a “neighbor” – anyone who needs kindness, compassion, and help!

And then the clincher… Jesus said, “You go, and do likewise!” Ouch! I need help! Lord help me to “love my neighbor as myself.” Oh Lord, help me to be that kind of person! Work that kind of love into my spiritual DNA and then out in my lifestyle! You feel that way too?