God sees that earnestness and surely answers with the very best. “Then Jesus said to them: ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. A friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.” And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him the bread because of friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs’” ( Luke 11:5–8 ). (1) As I meditated today on the passage Luke 11:5–8, I first wondered why Jesus spoke this “ Parable of the Friend Who Asks ” (vv. 5–8) right after teaching the prayer that the Lord taught (the Lord’s Prayer ) in Luke 11:1–4. (a) ...