"We prevail with men by importunity because they are displeased with it, but with God because he is pleased with it!" - Matthew Henry
The disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray. To demonstrate the importance of prayer, Jesus spoke to them about a person who went at midnight knocking on the door of a friend, for three loaves of bread to set before a guest who unexpectedly visited him that night.
It was unlikely time to open the door for anyone knocking at the door. And the friend didn’t want to get up and open the door. He had his children sleeping on the bed and like any parent, he didn’t want to wake them up. So it was only reasonable that he turned down the friend’s request many times.
However, this man refused to take “no” for an answer and didn’t even give it a thought that he was inconveniencing his friend. He had an urgent and specific request for which he knew that his friend had the answer. He didn’t even care if his persistence will negatively impact their relationship. All he wanted was an answer and so he kept on knocking.
Jesus said, “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.” (Luke 11: 8)
It’s important to note, it’s not the fact that him being a friend that got him the answer, but rather his persistence with such shameless boldness that made his friend to get up and open the door.
Though his request was for just three loaves of bread but when he got the answer he received as many as he needed. Jesus urged His disciples that they pray in this manner.
God made a way possible through His son Lord Jesus that we may approach Him. We can come to Him with our requests anytime. Our God is the loving Heavenly Father who is pleased with and more than willing to supply all our needs, unlike the reluctant friend in the story. When God answers, he will answer in abundance. Hence let’s continue to ask, seek and knock with persistence knowing that God sees and honors your importunity. May your answers come in abundance! God bless you!
