Unashamed

Mark 7:³² “There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.” (NIV, emphasis added).

The second thing that stands out to us from Mark 7:31-37 (please read) is how shameless the people who brought this man to Jesus were in prayer. They were Shameless In Prayer. I enjoy listening to a lot of teachers, and I have heard the “King’s kid” teachings that say you don’t beg God for anything. You just go to God as your Father and tell Him what you need. And once you believe, it is done. That is the provision of the Covenant, and that is fine; it is in place and in play. That is the condition on which we come; we don’t come as beggars, we come as sons.

We have access to our Father; without that, we can’t even be new creations. In fact, being a new creation affords us that, so that is perfect and complete. However, when you have access to your Father, some things pinch you more than others. And there is a way some things will pinch you that you will say, God abeg (pidgin word for please). And there is nothing wrong with it. So, when people are in God’s presence and they require an intervention, but they are speaking Queen’s English, it is good if that is how best they can express themselves and their need to God. There is nothing wrong with it.

However, where I come from, things get to a certain level that you begin to say, “God abeg… don’t shame your child”. You begin to say, “Two seconds, Baba God, in just two seconds, You can turn this thing around”. For those who are parents, even though your children are your children, they still beg you for certain things. True or false? One of my children sometimes would rather play than eat his food. So, it is time to eat, but he wants to play. He starts crying, and I ignore him because I want him to finish his food. Then he does something very interesting. He says, “Daddy, I am crying…”, because every time he says that, I just release him to go and play. The way he says it is like “Daddy abeg”.

Begging God on a matter does not stop you from being a son. In fact, being a son gives you access to touch certain depths that strangers cannot. How can you show up before your Father, acting all cool when you know that there is a problem? I am a king’s kid, Jesus has done it all, so I don’t need to fast. I just name it and claim it, and it is done. Jesus says to us in Luke 18:¹ “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (ESV). God is saying to you that you have to be shameless and persistent in your prayer.

Prayer (hymn): Thou the spring of all my comfort. More than life to me. Whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in Heav’n but Thee? Saviour, Saviour …Do not pass me by. Amen!