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Sep 28, 2023 18:30pm

Persistent in Prayer

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If someone was introduced to your spouse and kissed them on the cheek, your initial reaction might be to get upset. Well, at least here in America. But in other parts of the world, this is a standard greeting and to do otherwise would be considered rude.

Culture.

It includes our language, customs, beliefs, and ideas. It’s what is considered our way of life or our normal.

It’s important to know about the culture to understand the significance behind our encounters and experiences.

As we continue our study in Luke, Jesus is still teaching about prayer. He gives us an example through a story.

Luke 11:5-8

“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.”

What did you find strange in this story? As we read this, we might think, “well I wouldn’t get up at midnight either! The nerve of someone! Even if they are my friend, they should know better.” Or it might be the fact that the man says my children are in bed with me. You might have one little one that sleeps in your bed, but the normal practice is that children have their own beds. And what about the other friend that showed up unannounced while he’s traveling. Does that seem odd to you? And why would the man be so insistent to make sure he has food for him?

The Bible was written TO the people of that day and it was written FOR us.

With that in mind, let’s look at the audience. The people of that day to whom Jesus was speaking would be what we consider Middle Eastern. This culture is a shame/honor culture. They put a great emphasis on hospitality.

If a man showed up at your house late at night on his journey, it would be shameful to not have something to give him to eat. Shameful as in “I could never show my face here again. I have greatly dishonored my family.” This is far different than our American culture.

This man would have been desperate for help. So, even though it’s the middle of the night, he goes to his friend and wakes him asking for bread. He won’t give it to him simply because of their friendship, but because he doesn’t want to dishonor his name.

This text uses the word importunity which is translated shamelessness or persistence. The man wouldn’t take no for an answer. He needed that bread and would continue to knock because he was in need.

Jesus was explaining to them that our prayer life should be similar. We should go to the Father with our requests.

Continuously. Persistently. Shamelessly.

When you pray, do you ask God once, or do you ask Him time and time again? This is a great reminder that our requests are not a bother to God. He cares about our needs. And we should bring them before Him over and over.

If He is silent, it doesn’t mean no. Maybe it just means it’s not the right time yet.

Are you being persistent in your prayer? Is that thing that you are desperate for driving you to your knees daily? It’s time. Time to go before the Lord and knock. He’s available to us always.