#230 Fish and Scorpions

25 They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high[f]—its horns of one piece with it.26 They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27 They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer. Exodus 37:25-29 NIV

Though men don't naturally hunger for the truth or such righteousness that comes from God's truth, it is often the first part of their first prayer. "Forgive me", and yet with that we have only begun to see so dimly. The formula of our own incense is tainted, the altar as yet unrefined, and yet we have a High Priest, Jesus, Who alone is righteous. It is often that our emotions lead us to pray, but there is many a time that out emotions, if aloud to lead, will lead us within ourselves. It is not always the place of rest or retreat we hoped, and when we turn out, so often it is to an even darker embrace. Others appear to be strong and without emotion, but I would challenge that it is not the death of feeling that touches most closely to the truth, rather, it is the truth and love that bring self control and the grandest of emotions. What do you want when you seek the face of God, when you talk to the only one that truly understands? It is a merciful seat indeed and the truth of the matter is that someone else carried me from the outer courtyard to this place, and so with that is the feeling that I should ask Him how to pray.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“ ‘Father,a

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.b

3Give us each day our daily bread.

4Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.c

And lead us not into temptation.d ’ ”

5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7And 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.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacitye he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks forf a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  Luke 11:1-11