Readings for Pentecost 9

Gen. 18:(17-19) 20-33

Col. 2:6-15 (16-19)           

Luke 11:1-13

Passage for meditation:  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 

Devotion:  On any given day in the Edwards house one of the kids is asking for something.  Can I have a glass of milk?  Yes.  Can I have a sharp knife?  No.  Can I have a banana?  Yes.  Can I have ice cream? Later for desert.

The asking seems to be multiplied if the location changes from our house to the Wal-mart toy isle.  All parents can relate to the never ending barrage of “can I get this can I get this can I get this?” as the kids pass by toy after toy.

Even if you’re not parent, I’ll bet you can remember a time when you were young and constantly pestered mom and dad for the latest and greatest toy on the market.  Or at least you can remember asking for snacks and glasses of milk that were out of reach for you. 

Asking parents for stuff is what kids do.  They may not understand that they ask because their own wallets are empty, or that they are completely dependent on mom and dad- but they do know this: If you ask you may receive.  It is the parents prerogative to grant these requests as they see fit. 

Most of the time parents try to give to kids what is good and beneficial to them.  But that’s not always the case.  Sometimes parents give out of guilt, out of frustration or even without thinking of the child’s best interest.

Not so with our Heavenly Father.  It is His prerogative to give the best gift to His children, namely the Holy Spirit.  He gives all good things to His children- never out of guilt or frustration- never because we keep pestering Him for the things that we think we should have- but purely out of love.  He always has our best interest at heart, our salvation.  And for this, His Son has taught us to pray.  Christ invites us to listen to His words and learn what we are to ask for and then to speak them back to our Heavenly Father and gladly expect Him to hear us and give what He has promised.