Luke 11:5-8

“For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?” (Luke 11:6)

As strange as this may sound, Jesus (I think) is teaching His disciples to look beyond the odds, or impossibilities, as seen by man. He has told us that what things are impossible with man are possible with God (Mark 10:27).

It would probably be considered out of order for someone to show up at that time (midnight) with nothing in hand, and for the purpose of someone beside yourself. And yet he went anyway. He went not because he knew that his friend would, beyond a reasonable doubt, lend him the loaves. But he went because he knew that his friend had loaves to lend. As he had the desire to see his friend be blessed.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2)

It has been my growing desire to see men of God, who have remained faithful, to be reconnected with their wives and families outside prison walls. It amazes me, because I sometimes find myself weeping over their situation more than over my own. Even though I have no wife and no kids (yet), I still sympathize for them in their longing to be there with those they love, more than that they are able to now. It is my strong desire and my continual prayer that they will be blessed. But I pray above all that it is the Lord’s will.

But until then, by faith, I pray that God will use me in a mighty way to be a blessing unto them while they are in their journey. I look forward to receiving from God something that I can set before them, even if it is at midnight.

Importunity is defined as an urgent request or shameless persistence.

It is also good to know the character of a true friend. It is not necessarily true that the one friend had to beg, but the other could hear in his voice and see in his face and body language, that he really had an unselfish and right motive for his request. The Scripture says he gave him as many as he needed. He gave him the desire of his heart!

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:23)

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

As the Lord continues to work on me day by day, I have strong desires to see others blessed.