I think the point of the illustration of asking for bread and receiving bread instead of a stone is that if parents being evil do not give something bad to their children when the child asks for something good, then we should think at least as good about God. Indeed, God does not give us something bad when we ask him for something good.
However, you have moved it toward something else, saying that if we ask for something bad or useless, God is still going to give us something good. What use then is prayer or faith? It seems like you think God just does what he wants for us regardless of what we ask for. As small children, you have a point, but as we mature in the Lord, we must realize the kind of prayer and faith that God expects of us. We are not to be like infants who do not know what to ask for or how to ask for it. We are to be men and women of faith, who knows God's will, and who asks according to God's will, and who receives what we ask for. Now there is only one way to receive from God as we mature in him, and that is that we exercise faith. Those who do not pray in faith do not receive what they ask for. Those who do pray in faith always receive what they ask for. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (20) For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Peace be with you. David Miller. ----- Original Message ----- From: Debbie Sawczak To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 9:23 AM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] The Humanity of Jesus You've never prayed for the "wrong" thing and been given something better? I think the passages involved teach us principles, but we probably shouldn't make such categorical statements about how God answers our prayers. The point of the stones and bread passage is that God is at least as good as human parents. If my son asked for candy for breakfast, I wouldn't give it to him, although he does sometimes get candy when appropriate (so at a certain age he might have made that honest mistake). He would still get the cereal he needs though (as well as the little exposition about what constitutes good breakfast food). I'm not talking about stubbornness or unbelief. I was trying to say that I do not have to agonize about whether I am always asking God for the "right" thing. If I ask him for something sincerely in the mistaken belief that it is good, I can trust that he will do what is best in the situation and will continue to take care of me. Would you agree? To make that point I borrowed the metaphor from the passage. Whatever God does is "bread". Let's allow ourselves a little poetry sometimes. Debbie ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 9:02 AM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] The Humanity of Jesus > Debbie wrote: >> Even if we ask for stones, he gives bread. > > Not true, Debbie. In fact, we can even ask for bread but lack faith, and > he > will not give it to us. > > James 1:6-7 > (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is > like > a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. > (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the > Lord. > > Peace be with you. > David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
