Good Gifts Given

Psalm 85:7-13, Luke 11:5-13

In Psalm 85 the psalmist talks about the good gifts God will give. These include salvation, steadfast love, faithfulness, and peace. It tells how the Lord will give what is good so their land will increase in its yields.

Our passage in Luke follows the Lord’s Prayer and tells a parable about waking up one’s neighbor asking for bread for your guests. Though they refuse at first due to your persistence they will give you what you need.

Jesus tells the disciples to ask and it shall be given to you, search and it will be found (The Lord helps me a lot with this one when I look for something I’ve misplaced). Then knock and the door will be opened. He repeats this by saying everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches finds, and everyone who knocks on the door it will be opened. We are told to ask for good things to be given to you. Search for the right path and God as Holy Spirit will help you find it. Then knock on the doors of opportunities and the one the Lord wants best for you will be opened.

Jesus then tells how earthly parents will give the children what they ask for not something dangerous like a snake or a scorpion. So, if earthly parents give what is asked for how much more will the heavenly father give us including the Holy Spirit – our advocate to those who ask.

The heavenly father in our Psalm passage has steadfast love for God’s children. How much more will good things come from our unconditional loving God. One who is faithful. It says faithfulness will spring out from the ground and God’s righteousness will look down from the sky. This faithfulness coming from the ground refers to their agricultural livelihood – that God’s faithfulness will spring out of the ground in the form of an increase in yield of their crops.

What is it that you need for God to supply in your life? Pray with persistence. It may not be the right time for God to answer yet just keep on praying. What are you searching for? Pray that the Lord will help you find it, again persistence and then when the opportunity that’s right for you comes your way – knock and the door will be opened.

What about unanswered prayers? Not only is it maybe not time for it but could you be praying for something that is not good for you. Have faith in the steadfast love of God who only grants gifts that are good for us. God will not give you snakes or scorpions, things that are bad for you that you are asking for. Keep asking persistently and good gifts will come. Amen.

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