Christ commended the way of the persistent man to those who sought God
in prayer. He gave examples of the widow who continually importuned an
unjust judge until he listened to her plea and gave her justice (Luke
18:1-8), and of the man who would not take "no" for an answer when he
wanted to borrow bread from a neighbour at midnight (Luke 11:5-8). He
said, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9). Men who do not
persist in their praying will fail to receive the higher blessings and
the larger benefits which otherwise God would gladly bestow upon
them. If men know how to give good gifts to their children when they
ask for them, then much more God knows how to grant the best things to
men when they ask Him. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and
the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).
The Approach of God to Man.--How does God come near to man? Does He
hear when men pray to Him? Can He and will He answer prayer?
These questions are all simply and plainly answered in the
Scriptures. There is no doubt expressed here that God comes near to
men and will hear and answer when they pray to Him. "The Lord is nigh
unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth"
(Psalm 145:18; 139:7-12; Ephesians 3:20).
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