Read: 2 Kings 13:14-19; Mark 6:1-6; James 4:2; Genesis 18:22-33
There are two phrases the Chicago sports fan knows too well. First, this might be the year. Second, wait until next year. This was supposed to be the year for the Chicago Bears. A new quarterback and improvements in other areas of the team's make-up boded well. That is, until the current losing streak. Even so, this year, they were playing on Thanksgiving. A chance to look good during the early game slot. To say things began poorly would have been an understatement; however, then came the fourth quarter. Yes, I know that many fans might have been carving the turkey by this time having given up on the woebegone Bears. I must admit that I too had turned the game off, but I came back in time to get very excited. Rather than being down by three touchdowns, the Bears were within 3 points. Field goal range, and they had the ball. There were thirty seconds remaining, and the Bears had one time out. Victory or at least a trip to overtime were distinct possibilities. That was until they squandered their opportunity by allowing the clock to wind down without even using their time out. Even the commentators were very surprised by the coach's poor clock management. One thing is certain. A wasted opportunity takes away even the possibility of a good outcome.
In today's scripture readings, we are reminded of squandered opportunities that could happen in any of our lives, and how we could miss out on blessings that are much sweeter than an NFL victory. How? This can occur when we think too small when we talk with the Lord or when we fail to ask for His help or allow unbelief to keep us from coming to the Him in prayer.
Before we go further, let's remind ourselves that God welcomes His children to come to His throne of grace to find mercy and help in our times of need, Hebrews 4:14-16. Notice that God here doesn't place any parameters on how often we can run to Him for His assistance or what constitutes a time of need. What might be a seemingly big need to me might not even be seen on a friend's radar screen, but I am welcome at the throne of my Creator, Father and King. He is the Father that many have never had. The One Who knows what we need and the One Who welcomes us to ask, knowing that He is good, Matthew 6:8; Matthew 7:7-11. Nothing is too insignificant to carry to Jesus nor is anything so large that He would be befuddled by it.
In 2 Kings 13, we read an interesting story about Jehoash. He served as king for the Northern ten tribes who are often referred to as Israel. During the reign of his father, the Lord had mercifully given Israel a victory over the Syrians who had been cruelly oppressing them; however, Syria remained Israel's enemy. When the prophet Elisha was sick and close to death, King Jehoash came to mourn and honor him. It was then that Elisha had the king shoot an arrow out the window toward Syria to picture Israel's up-coming victories over the Syrians. Elisha next told the king to strike the arrows into the ground to denote the number of victories Israel would have. The king’s small number of strikes angered the prophet. In effect the king had asked only for a little; therefore, the victory over the enemy would not be complete.
This exercise seems strange to us, but it is a reminder of how bountiful are the blessings God wants to bestow, Ephesians 3:20, and King Jehoash's requests, shown through the number of times he had struck the ground with the arrows had been too small. He had squandered the opportunity God had held out to him, and the victory over Syria would be less than it could have been.
In Mark 6:1-6, we are reminded of another squandered opportunity. This time, we see the responses of some from Jesus' home town. They marveled at His teaching but their marveling led to a cynicism. This son of Mary whose family they knew! Who was He anyway! Their words displayed a lack of respect. What a sad statement we read when we learn that their unbelief resulted in Jesus' being unable to do mighty works there. Talk about a multitude of squandered opportunities. How many might their Messiah have blessed with healing? Yet, instead of that, we read that their hardness of heart caused Jesus to marvel. A sad marveling and gifts that no doubt went unclaimed.
In James 4:2, we have a simple but thought-provoking statement that James writes to his readers. There were things these folks didn't have because they didn't ask God for them. We're not given a list of what they had forfeited, but when I read this, I can't run past it quickly. What things do we not receive because we don't come to the Savior for them? Yes, I know that some things God does because they are a part of His overarching plan, but there are evidently other answers and gifts that He wants us to have if only we ask. Yes, oh what gifts we often forfeit and what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer, and that leads to more squandered opportunities.
Let's not end with an opportunity lost. Let's remember a man who came to God with a boldness we can learn from and a humility we can admire. His name is Abraham, and this incident is found in Genesis 18:22-33. In verse 27, we see the qualities of boldness and reverence for God walking together as Abraham talked to God in prayer. It is here that the patriarch is very bold to ask God for mercy on behalf of the people of Sodom, but he is also well aware that he is merely a man. Abraham was talking to the One Whom he called the Judge of all the earth. Yet, he continued to grab every opportunity to pray for mercy. No demanding here; instead, Abraham prayed what we can call a big prayer, and God was willing to do what he asked. In the end, ten righteous were not found, and Sodom received judgment from God. Yet, Abraham didn't squander his opportunity to pray. God honored his request, and we learn a great deal about how to approach God and God's tender mercy through Abraham's exchange with the Almighty One. No, coming to God in prayer doesn't always mean that His answer will be all that we want, but we won't know if we don't take the opportunity to pray. What we discover might be an answer that will bring us closer to God or better see a bit more of what He is like. Prayer is never wasted when we boldly and humbly come to Jesus since we are talking and listening to the One Who loves us more than we can fathom.
Lord, help us to ask Spirit-led prayers, remembering that nothing is too hard for You, Luke 1:37. Help hardness of heart not to creep in and deaden our desire to pray.
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