Reflecting on Luke 11:5-13“How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
Jesus changes the analogy from a friend (v.5) to a father (v.11).
He describes how most human fathers know how to care for their children.
This in spite of the fact that humanity is evil, not loving as it should.
If human fathers who are unloving know how to love their children…
How much more the good and loving God who is the perfect ‘Father’.
The good gifts Jesus mentions (eggs and fish) are healthy and beneficial.
The alternative gifts (scorpions and snakes) are bad and dangerous.
(In Matthew’s version, Jesus mentions bread and stones).
If human fathers know the difference between beneficial and dangerous…
How much more the good and loving God who is the perfect ‘Father’.
Luke picks up on what Jesus means by the good gifts from God.
Matthew — “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)
Luke — “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
These are not different; Luke explains what Jesus meant by “good gifts”.
All good gifts come to us from God, through the Spirit of God.
The Spirit of God is God’s power and presence given to us.
And through the Spirit in us, we receive LIFE, “life to the full” (John 10:10).
Our greatest need, and the key to our joy and peace, is God’s Spirit.
The Spirit of God in us heals and helps us from and through all our difficulties.
The outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost was not a one-time blessing.
It was the renewal of God’s creation blessing, and the key to our restoration.
God’s mission is to make life in this world “very good” (Genesis 1:31) again.
For this to happen, we need God’s presence and power restored.
When we are reconnected to God, with God’s Spirit in us, our healing comes.
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
Our greatest need is to be restored in our relationship with God.
In that restored relationship, the experience of misery is overturned.
I can pray for daily bread, but what I need is spiritual bread.
I can ask for a drink of water, but what I need is spiritual water.
The former gifts are momentary, but spiritual life satisfies eternally.
“Everyone who drinks this water (physical water) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
This is what God wants to give us, more than anything else.
God, our loving ‘Father’ WILL give us this.
What a comfort to know this, but it also challenges me.
Is this what I am asking for from God?
By all means, ask for ‘daily bread’… but don’t settle for that.
Jesus is compelling me to ask for more, for what really matters!
To ask for the strength of the Spirit, the secret to contentment.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
Hunger and thirst, ask and seek and knock for soul-satisfying food.
And when you ask, know for certain that God WANTS to, and WILL give us, this food.
God our ‘Father’ wants us to be eternally happy, joy-filled, blessed.
And He will not refuse anyone that wants this blessing!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, fill me with God's Spirit so that no matter what I am experiencing here in this life, I have contentment and fullness in God. I want to know the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want... the secret of God's strength (presence/power/Spirit) in me!