Gift Giving; Gift Receiving. How good does it get? Luke 11:11-13

Lord, please speak. I want to hear your voice. Yet again, I was surprised by what I heard this morning. Totally amazed yet again.

What do you ask God for?  You can ask God for anything. So, what do you ask?

Health?

Prosperity?

Success?

So what does Jesus say?  He so brings it to such simple terms.

Moms, Dads, what would you give your child?  Would you give your child a plate full of nails when he/she is hungry? In the midst of all I am not, I want to give my two children good things – not extravagant, not embarrassing, not sadistic – something to say I love you and you mean SO MUCH to me. I love you!!!!

A quick digression: when I was 12 or 13, I got a toy car wash. It was nice but. . . It was geared for a kid 7-9 years old. I loved the person who gave it to me but it just didn’t seem appropriate. What was the dear person thinking with giving something so . . . so . . .                         (you fill in the blank). What were they thinking?

So what does Jesus tell us Father gives us?

Himself.

He doesn’t give us things; he gives us Himself – the Holy Spirit.

Do I want His Holy Spirit – God himself – more than I want health, prosperity or success? Will I ask him for himself?

Honestly, sometimes I want stuff more than him or I want enough of him so that he will want to give me stuff.  He knows I need him more than anything else and love me so much that he wants me to have what’s best for me. And that’s him and a relationship with him.

God give me yourself. Give me your Holy Spirit.

God give us yourself.  Give us your Holy Spirit.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ 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 11:11-13       NIV

"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"        Luke 11:11-13 The Message