Who would give his son a snake if he asked for an egg?

What can we expect from God, especially when we recognize that He doesn't owe us anything and that we don't deserve his grace and favour? Jesus used the illustration of a late-night traveller to teach his listeners an important lesson about how God treats us in contrast to the kind of treatment we might expect from good neighbors. The rule of hospitality in biblical times required the cooperation of the entire community in entertaining an unexpected or late-night guest. Whether the guest was hungry or not, a meal would be served. In a small village it would be easy to know who had baked bread that day. Bread was essential for a meal because it served as a utensil for dipping and eating from the common dishes. Asking for bread from one's neighbor was both a common occurrence and an expected favor. To refuse to give bread would bring shame because it was a sign of inhospitality.
If a neighbor can be imposed upon and coerced into giving bread in the middle of the night, how much more hospitable is God, who, no matter what the circumstances, is generous and ready to give us what we need. Augustine of Hippo reminds us that "God, who does not sleep and who awakens us from sleep that we may ask, gives much more graciously." In conclusion Jesus makes a startling claim: How much more will the heavenly Father give!
The Lord is ever ready to give us not only what we need, but more than we can expect. He gives freely of his Holy Spirit that we may share in his life and joy. Do you approach your heavenly Father with confidence in his mercy and kindness?
"Heavenly Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt Your love nor hesitate to seek you with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your disciple and child."

STIFLING THE SPIRIT (1 Thes 5:19)

        "After beginning in the Spirit, are you now to end in the flesh?" —Galatians 3:3

        Approximately one billion people on the earth have received the Holy Spirit. This may come as a surprise because you'd think the world would be in better shape with all these "Spirit-filled" people. Nonetheless, just because a billion have received the Holy Spirit does not mean they are living in the Spirit. Many of the billion have stifled the Spirit by yielding to the flesh (Gal 5:17). Like Esau, too many of us have sold our birthright — life in the Spirit — for petty, selfish pleasures (Gn 25:33-34). We've fallen into the temptation of depending on worldly things instead of on Jesus. We have thereby denied Him as our only Lord and Savior (Jude 4). We have gone out of our minds (Gal 3:1) and no longer recognize Jesus as the only One Who died on the cross for us and rose from the dead. Jesus is Life (Jn 14:6; Phil 1:21). Everything is rated as loss in His light (Phil 3:8). When we recommit our lives to Jesus, He will stir up the Spirit in our lives (2 Tm 1:6).

Prayer: "To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!" (Rv 5:13)

Promise: "If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." Lk 11:13

Praise: Marcia is in her eighties, and still prays instantly with whoever asks her for prayer. Numerous times, God has answered her prayers by the end of the same day.