Persistence Pays Off

"Lord, teach us how to pray!"  (Luke 11:1) The disciples are in awe of Christ's prayer life.  They want to pray just like Him, so they ask this simple thing.  He gave them the Lord's prayer as an example and then continues with the story of the man who wakes his friend in the middle of the night for loaves of bread.  The sleeping man does not want to get up, but because his friend is persistent, he gets up and gives him the bread.  "Ask!" Jesus tells us.  If we don't receive, it's because we haven't asked. 

When I first read this, I was taken aback.  On the surface it appears as though Jesus is saying, God doesn't want to answer your prayers because you're a bother, so be persistent and He will eventually answer (if only to get you to be quiet).  Seriously! It's what it sounds like.  But if you really look, what He is saying is God does want to answer you prayers, but He wants you to ask!  God LOVES spending time with His children.  He loves communicating with us and giving us good things.  Jesus tells us numerous stories of God's love for His children throughout the New Testament.  One cannot deny that He wants to be the center of our lives and wants only good for us. 

By being persistent in our prayers we are learning to understand our true needs as well.  We learn to express ourselves and we learn how important the things we ask for are to us.  The persistence is for our sake, not for God's sake.  He already set in motion the answer to your prayer, before you even uttered it.  Therefore, in our persistence, we will recognize God's work as it happens.  We will better appreciate what He is doing.  Just as a good father wants only the best for his children, our Heavenly Father wants even greater for us. 

Thank you, Lord, for knowing my needs before I do.  Thank you for teaching me to ask and for helping me to learn what is important in this life.  You are truly worthy of all praise.  Amen

Are you worthy to be my neighbor?

So at work, my coworkers and I generally work as a team. We have our own duties, our own schedules, but when one gets backed up the others try to absorb the extra work and help out.  As a rule... There are times when you don't really feel the other person is pulling their weight and you just don't feel like "helping them out".  They really aren't "worthy" of help.

Today I read Luke 10:25-37; the parable of the good Samaritan.  A man (a Jew) was left for dead on the side of the road after being beaten and robbed.  Two different religious leaders (priests) walked by him and, instead of helping, passed by the other side of the road and left him.  The 3rd man, a Samaritan, stopped to help.  Samaritans and Jews were definitely not known to keep company with one another at the time.  Jews were a pure race, decedent from Abraham.  Samaritans were a mixed race... mutts!  It just was not proper for the two to mix.  Yet, this Samaritan not only stopped, but went the extra mile to pay money to an inn-keeper to continue care in his absence and promised to be back to pay any additional costs. After the story, Jesus asked which man was neighbor to the hurt Jew.  The religious leaders, to whom the story was being told, answered correctly:  The man who took pity on him. 

If Paul Harvey were here, I wonder if he would have "The Rest of the Story."  Can you imagine the Jew's reaction as he awoke and realized who was caring for him? Would it change his own attitude about who his "neighbor"was.  I am not sure if it changed the minds of the religious leaders to whom Jesus was talking, but it made me think today.  Do I have the right to determine who is worthy of my help?  Even in the little things like helping with a schedule.  Definitely with my patients who come through our doors every day.  Each one, rich or poor, whatever color or race, male or female, young or old, deserves my complete attention. I need to give to each one the care they need, the extra mile if possible, just as the Samaritan did, because all are my neighbors. 

Thank you Jesus, for that story to remind us to care for one another!  God Bless.