Devotions

Rev Gav

Gift

Luke 11.5–13

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Reflect

If you could sum up today’s Bible reading in one sentence, perhaps it would be, “Is God more or less loving than you?”

I am not sure how Jesus could have made his point any clearer! The whole purpose of his incarnation into the world was to reconcile us to God, and this reconciliation would mean God could come and make home with us — that we could be joined or ‘one’ with God.

Yet, because reconciliation requires two parties, it is not forced upon us. We are not God’s slaves or robots but we have free will to choose to be reconciled, and a willingness is all that is required. There are no hoops to jump through, no catechisms to memorise or recite, no qualifications we need to attain, no Bible studies we need to attend, no churches we need to join, and not even doctrines we need to believe in. No, all we need to do is turn to Christ.

All of us have the opportunity to turn to God, and we may be at different points in our own spiritual journey. Some of us may be asking, some of us may still be searching, and some of us may be knocking but we will receive, find, and be welcomed!

While I was thinking and praying yesterday, I felt prompted to ask today’s Devotion readers whether they had ever consciously given their lives to Jesus, so here goes. Have you ever given your life to Jesus? Have you ever consciously prayed this prayer? “Jesus Christ, I repent of how I have put myself first at the expense of you, others, and your creation, and I now put my trust in you.” Perhaps today is your day.

Pray

Jesus Christ
I repent of how
I have put myself first,
at the expense of you,
others, and your creation,
and I now put
my trust in you.
I accept your forgiveness,
your love, and your welcome.
Fill me with your
Holy Spirit that I might
be one with you.
This day and forever.