In The Midnight Hour

Have you ever been in bed and the phone goes off? Maybe it is a text, and you think, “What time is it? Who in their right mind is texting at this hour of the night?” Then another text comes in, and then the phone rings. You finally answer, and they say, “Were you asleep?” “No, I was detailing my car at 1:00 in the morning. Yes, I was asleep!” The voice asks, “Can you help me?” You do not think the request is that important for the time of the call, and you decline. The phone rings again. Your spouse asks who it is, and you hear your children move around. You do not answer, and it rings again. You finally get up and help just so the phone will stop ringing. You might have an idea of what was going on in Luke 11:5-8.

Your friend has a friend that shows up, and he want to be hospitable but has no bread. Your friend comes to you at midnight to ask for some bread. You and your family are in bed. You do not want to get up and disturb everyone, but he keeps asking. You cave because he keeps asking. What a persistent friend! I want a persistent friend if he is trying to help me but not one who is waking me up at midnight.

Why would Jesus tell this? Before our lesson, in verses one through four, Jesus is teaching His disciples to pray. After our lesson, in verses 9-13, we have more instructions about prayer. So, in context, the lesson is about prayer. What about prayer? Persistence in it. Do you only “pray” when a prayer is led in Sunday morning worship? Do you only pray in emergencies? We are called to devote ourselves to prayer (Colossians 4:2). This is not a magic formula that will give you what you want. It is a lifestyle that is trusting in God. We tell Him our wants and trust that He knows best. Ultimately our desire is God’s will and His glorification. How is your prayer life?