Day Two Matthew 7:9-11
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” – Matthew 7:9-11 (NLT)
Learn From the Word
Jesus drives home His point on prayer using an example of an earthly parent. Not only does God stand ready and willing to hear from His children, He has such good gifts to give them! Jesus uses “how much more” language several times in the gospels to emphasize just how valuable we are to our Father and how much better He is than even the best earthly parent. God has good gifts for His children, and Jesus wants us to know this Father for who He really is.
Put It Into Practice
Think of the best earthly parent you know – someone who has fun with kids, who knows how to lovingly say “no” when their kids ask for things that won’t be good for them, someone who wants to spend time knowing their child, and is always available to them, day or night. God is the perfect parent and far surpasses even that person. Take some time to tell God now that you want to know Him for the good Father that He is and thank Him. Continue to get to know His true character through a careful study of His Word.
For Families with Kids at Home
Ask your kids, “What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten from me?” Encourage them that in the same way that you love them and want good things for them, God loves them even more and wants even better things for them. We can always trust that God is always working things out behind the scenes, even when we don’t fully understand what He’s up to, because God is a perfect Father who loves us!