Persistence Paid Off
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:5-13)
Thought For Today:
It's remarkable how many individuals are hesitant to request assistance or something they might require from others. Fear of rejection is one reason why we may feel this way. Some people are too afraid to ask their pastor for clarification or a better understanding of their teachings and sermons, so they try to figure things out on their own. This can lead to them feeling isolated and excluded from the Lord's work and sitting in church feeling hurt and lonely. However, your pastor has your best interests at heart, so don't be afraid to approach them for help. Jesus used a parable about a man who went to his friend in the middle of the night, needing bread for another friend who had stopped by. Despite the late hour, his friend got up and gave him the bread because of his persistence. This word "persistence" has multiple meanings, including consistency, being troublesome, demanding, and insistent. However, we should also focus on the fact that the men in the parable were friends, and friends love each other at all times. Because Jesus calls us friends, it's never too late for salvation. Now is the time for salvation and to ask God for what you need. Be persistent, and God will come through for you. Remember, without faith, it's impossible to please God.
