Unembarrassed Persistence! I used to tell journalists I worked with that persistence is everything. If your reputation is to keep asking, eventually people will answer, if nothing else, just to be rid of you. I think in this Gospel, Jesus is reminding us that bold persistence works with God. Also it wouldn’t hurt to be humble when you ask.

Luke 11:1-9 

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” And he said to them,

“Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:1-9 ESV

There’s talk of food shortages in our current world. Remember God has his ways, none of which we really understand. Who knows if the prophet Habakkuk was only talking about his times, or times to come. The remedy is clear. Rejoice in the Lord, take joy in the God of your salvation. God is in charge, but we have to do our part too.

 Habakkuk 3:17-19 

Though the fig tree should not blossom, 

    nor fruit be on the vines, 

the produce of the olive fail

    and the fields yield no food, 

the flock be cut off from the fold

   and there be no herd in the stalls, 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

   I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 

God, the Lord, is my strength;

   he makes my feet like the deer's;

   he makes me tread on my high places. 

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 - ESV

“Climate Crisis!!!” There are those who think humans are to blame, and we might just be. But not for the reasons they think. Perhaps climate alarmists should go to God’s word and see what the real problem is.

Isaiah 24:4-6 

The earth mourns and fades away,  

The world languishes and fades away; 

The haughty people of the earth languish.

The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants,  

Because they have transgressed the laws,  

Changed the ordinance, 

Broken the everlasting covenant. 

Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, 

And those who dwell in it are desolate. 

Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, 

And few men are left. -

Bible Gateway link to Isaiah 24:4-6 NKJV

I question this. Was I chosen? and before the foundation of the world, how can that possibly be? This little phrase in the middle of everything explains everything. It is “according to the good pleasure of His will.” Who am I to argue with that. I’m so grateful to Bible Study where I am blessed to ponder and to seek and find answers.

St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Bible Gateway link to Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV)

One of the great Biblical moments where God uses flawed people in his story of salvation. When reunited, Esau and Jacob; brothers, twins, separated by deceit, fear and murderous intentions, both say: “I have enough.” When do we ever think we have enough? Only when we have a growing relationship with God. It is everything we need. It is enough.

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. 

Genesis 33:4-11

Immediately in the Gospel we see how Satan twists God’s words into lies. Jesus, of course, is the Word. He answers with grace and authority. The more I read and absorb scripture, the better ammunition I have to resist the devil in daily life. He will flee, It‘s a promise.

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Matthew 4:3-11 -