e-vo for week of July 21

Dearest e-votees-

My apologies that this is getting out to you so late in the week. I lost track of time with all the fun we were having with our VBS (SonRock Kids Camp). Next week might be a little tardy too. We are leaving this morning for a middle school mission trip to Seattle and won’t be back to town until next Wednesday. Any prayers you could lift up towards that endeavor would be greatly appreciated. I appreciate your patience and pray that these weekly insertions are a blessing to you.

Peace,
Karl

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1 [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." 5 And he said to them, "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; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 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.' 8 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. 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 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!"

Luke 11:1-13, NRSV

This account of Jesus teaching the Lord’s Prayer comes on the heels of the visit to Mary and Martha. It is interesting to note that the other account of Jesus teaching the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is different than this one. It is also interesting to note that neither line up with what many use on Sunday morning or in their personal devotions. I’m not so sure Jesus was that interested in scripted prayers. It seems as though he was much more concerned about the right placement of the heart rather than the right words with the right inflections. Scripted or rote prayers aren’t the issue—praying faithfully to a God who wants our prayers is what matters most. If scripted prayers help with that right placement of heart then thanks be to God.

I am fond of the stories of persistent petitioners. This story and the one of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) both have the same sense. If you pester people enough they will do what is right even if they don’t care about you. The judge yields even though he neither fears God nor cares about people. The friend above yields not because of the friendship but because of the persistence. This has some powerful implications for social advocacy and calling people in power to do what’s right.

This form is one that is fairly common in scripture. It is an argument from the lesser to the greater. If we, though we are sinful, can be moved by persistence and petition to do what is right how much more will God respond when we faithfully bring persistent petitions. If we know how to give our child good gifts, though we are evil, how much more will God lavish the Holy Spirit upon those who ask for that gift?

I had a reluctant seminary professor who didn’t always return papers in a timely fashion. Eventually I decided to adopt the role of the persistent widow. I said to this professor “You know that there is Biblical precedent for nagging to get what you want” This professor said “Yes.” I said “You know that you really should be returning my papers.” This professor again said “Yes.” “So then,” I said, “you won’t mind if I nag at you until your return my papers.” “No.” said this professor. The nagging ensued. And the rate of paper return increased.

E-mails such as:

“You neither fear God nor care about men but because I nag you, you will return my papers.

~The Persistent e-widow”

proved effective.

If in such a small matter I was able to make some progress due to persistence and petitioning how much more should I be a person of prayer crying out to God for the things that the world needs.

Unfortunately, I didn’t generalize this principle very well. I was content to have what I needed and really didn’t worry so much about the rest of the class (who didn’t get their papers back so regularly). It is way too easy to fight for what directly affects us and leave the world in the lurch. Caring only for our own needs and neglecting the similar needs of others runs counter to the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer. Daily bread for us alone is insufficient.


Dear God, shape us into faithful and persistent prayer warriors. Help us never stop asking until justice and basic needs are available for all. Teach us to bless our children well and to drink in the blessings you have for us, your children. Amen.