THE PERSISTENT NEIGHBOR 

In Luke 11, Jesus and His disciples are Jerusalem-bound just ahead of His judgement and crucifixion. One disciple asks Jesus to teach them how to pray. 

Surely these men who had spent so much time with Jesus had picked that up by now?

It’s important to understand that the Lord’s prayer was a revolutionary idea. It’s an intimate prayer to a loving God—not a recited formality like many of that time. 

Right after Jesus shares this new prayer framework, He moves to preparing our hearts to approach God in prayer. When the friend knocks on his neighbor’s door asking for bread, he is waking his neighbor to help someone else. It’s an act of selfless generosity for another’s benefit.  

How should we view the neighbor’s initial reluctance? Surely our Father in heaven is ready to help? Sure. Verse 9 clearly confirms God’s willingness to answer prayer. The original language says the friend is "without shame" in his midnight visit. He doesn’t come reluctantly. Any awkwardness he may feel about the late night visit is set aside for the benefit of another.  

Jesus encourages us not to let anything stop us from coming to our Father—pride, awkwardness, embarrassment, or even hopelessness.

written by DWAYNE JEFFRIES