A List of Demands

The danger for every Christian entering prayer is to forget the purpose of prayer. We light our candle and incense and begin the pious repetition of ancient words. Then we look up to God and begin our list of demands. We may call them wants, but if we don’t get them…..watch out.

At that time, the crowd wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of the mouth of Jesus; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself; what we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here also in your own country.'” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But passing through the midst of them he went away.

Luke 4.22-30

Most people focus on the words, “No prophet is acceptable in his own country,” in today’s passage. I invite you to dig a bit deeper today. Focus on the intent of the crowd. They knew what Christ had accomplished elsewhere.

Instead of glorifying Christ for what He had done for others, they demanded He do the same for them. When His response wasn’t what they wanted, the revolted against Him. This is the danger of selfish prayer. We demand a list of things from God, and revolt if He says no.

I urge you not to read this passage merely as a passage from history. Read this passage as a challenge against rebelling in your own life. There are many good examples of prayer in the Scriptures. “Lord have mercy on.” “Lord forgive me.” “Lord I am not worthy.”

Before you fall into the trap of thinking God doesn’t love you just because He won’t give you want you demand from Him, try asking Him for mercy. Try asking Him for grace. Try asking Him to help you “be ok” with your circumstances.

If you want God to always say ‘yes’ to your prayer, always ask Him for what He already wants for you. He already wants to show you mercy. He already wants to express His grace on you. He already wants you to “be ok” with your circumstances.

Most importantly, God already wants you to be in communion with Him. We cannot be in communion with Him so long as we treat Him to a list of demands every day in our prayers. Communion requires love and love makes no demands.