[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2024]
Recently I overheard a telephone conversation between a young boy, who was on holiday, with his father who was at work. The conversation, more accurately the monologue, consisted entirely of a list of the things he wanted when he got home: a long ladder with a slide, a tree-house and, for Christmas, a present “costing 300 pounds”.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Matthew 7 v9 [BSB]
There was no thought of “How are you, Daddy, how is your work going?” or “Thank you for the holiday”. He regarded his father solely as the supplier of the things he wanted, and he will be likely to throw a tantrum if he is disappointed. He soon tired of the presents that his parents had bought but a hammer, a few pieces of wood and some nails kept him fully occupied and happy right up to when it was time to go home.
How often are we like that in our prayers? We present God with a list of actions or things that we think will make our lives better and we are often inclined to lose interest in the blessings that we have already received. Are we prone to show our disappointment when God does not comply?
As with all means of communication we first need to establish the protocols: who are we trying to contact, and how, what forms of address are appropriate, what sort of response do we expect?
In the template prayer that Jesus taught his disciples[1] we see that our wishes are not the first priority. The initial phrase of the prayer refers to “our Father in Heaven”, a title that combines the right to respect and obedience with approachability and the expectation that he will provide for his children.
In the verse from Matthew quoted above, Jesus used bread and a stone to make a point. Those two items can make a point for us: the bread speaks of the broken body of Christ, the stone reminds us of his resurrection. In between, our heavenly father also made use of a hammer, a few pieces of wood and some nails to make provision for our eternal well-being.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8 v32 [ESVUK]
Having established the correct protocol we can then bring our requests; we can ask for the provision of our daily needs, we can ask for forgiveness of sins.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 5 v14-15 [NKJV]
But what about our response? Did we skip over the bit about honouring God’s name and doing what he wants? Wouldn’t that be a good way to show our gratitude?
References:
[1] Matthew 6 v9-13, Luke 11 v2-4
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Last week’s reflection: Believe It, Or Not
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Thank you Steve for this reflection. It has reminded me to be more thankful to God for the many blessings which He has given to me and my family and appreciate what Jesus did for us on the old wooden cross at Calvary.