If you then, though you are evil...
Submitted by F.O.D. on January 31 1999 at 18:43:35
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Hello brothers (and Heather ;) welcome back)! This week's verse for the week: Matt 7:7-12 "Ask and it will be given to youl seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 good gifts to those who ask him! In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." The verse which struck me when I read these verses this time was v10 "Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" The question that came to my mind was, "what then, if he asks for a snake?" ??? What is the good Father to do then?? Thank God he says it all in v11: "how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" We can ask, but it's God who will give us good things. He'll give us what is good, even if we ask for something bad. Thank God prayer is not a "magic formula"! Say the words, watch for the consequences in the spiritual realm. Have you ever come across teaching like that in the church? I have. I've known some who say you have to be so careful with your words, because what you "confess" with your mouth will come true in the heavenlies. So if you say you're feeling unwell, according to them, you'll fall sick. I think that is so wrong, cause it engenders a hypocritical kind of false religion, where people are never honest about how they are truly feeling or what they are truly thinking. It's a part of "prosperity theology", I believe, saying God will be coerced into making you truly rich and healthy if you prove you have enough faith for it. Anyway, I digress. My point is that God loves us enough to give us the things that are good for us, even if we ask for something that's not good. For myself, I made a practical prayer out of this "asking and receiving" and waiting for good things. Now, referring to our discussion/debate on whether homosexuality is in fact acceptable or not acceptable to God, I can't yet say with a full conscience that it is OK. The arguments on both sides seem to be very biblical (coming from different emphases) and I can't come to a final conclusion. I tend to err on the side of the traditional view (or at least my disemotional will does). But at the same time, I love my YF E. terribly. Heather mentioned recently that the test of whether or not to marry is whether or not you can bear to live without that girl. But that's how I feel about my boy - I can't bear being without him (and I mean that. My work efficiency is suffering terribly at the moment, and I just don't care. How much of that is because it's a boring job or because I miss home, and how much of that is because I miss E?) So, in line with Matt 7, I prayed like this. I said "Father, you said that whoever asks receives. But the thing I want more than anything else in the world is to be with E, and to be able to share my life and everything that goes on with him. Will you let us come together and be able to love each other this way? But I'm glad that you love me enough, that if I'm asking for a snake, you won't give it to me." Further. I prayed this prayer on Thursday, I think. On Friday I rang E. We both agreed that we really want to see each other, that he should come visit me this summer. But we agreed to this in the following, somewhat odd, way. That he would want to come visit is obvious, even if we were just "ordinary" friends. But we came about it in this way. He told me that his brother Y was planning to spend the summer with friends, but he didn't want to go there, so that's when I suggested he come visit me (I've been thinking all along of inviting them both - Y is also very dear to me - but haven't been rushing at making the suggestion, not wan ting to cause disappointments if it won't work out) But then, when I spoke to Y himself, it seemed to be news to him that he was going to be with these friends! So, I almost had the impression that E was trying to arrange it so that he would come on his own without his brother and it would just be the two of us together... Premature to look at it this way, of course, and see it as relating to the prayer I prayed, but it did make me wonder a little... (part of the adventure with this boy is seeking to understand what he really thinks inside that dear head of his. "Still waters run deep..." There's evidence that says he doesn't want to be gay anyway, but then there is a degree of ambiguity too... Well, at any rate, I won't regret having my friend come over to visit, even without extra complications. Can I afford the two of them if Y does want to come too?) Other further. On the other hand, another local church had a drama on last night. There I met the prettiest girl I've seen in a long time, very sweet-natured too. As you will understand, it's not every day I meet a girl who grabs my attention, so when it happens, I have to comment on it. (I can just imagine a future with E where we sit in each other's company and point out the pretty girls going by to each other :) ) They invited me to the service this morning, and just as I was coming to the entrance, this girl came up too! Like, as if it was a set-up or something! But then again, after that we hardly even talked for the rest of the time I was there (communal lunch afterwards), so that's probably the end of that. That's all I have to say. I guess I got a usual post a bit mixed up with a bible study post, so I hope it's not too long ;) And to Chris, as you're asking the Father for loaves and fishes, I trust you won't be finding snakes and stones! My prayers are with you! May God look after you and your brother's family. In Christ, Fod |