“Just one more time daddy, just one more time.” The scene can be repeated in a billion situations. It can be a father and child at the swing set when just one more won’t suffice. It can be the questions of life that come up between parents and children when the child asks but one more. It is also a truth that is quite revealing about the nature of God and our relationship with Him. “Just one more…”
Here’s how Jesus said to approach our heavenly Father:
Luke 18:1–8 (ESV) — 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Just one more time is OK with God – even if you have bent His ear a thousand times before or even if you feel like you have not been acting in a worthy manner. Go back, then go again, and again. It’s exactly what we are instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ and what we see in examples and precepts throughout the Bible.
Romans 15:4 (ESV) — 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The standard of God’s merciful ear in giving us one more time is found throughout the Bible and should be an encouragement to us when we feel like we’ve exhausted His ear, His kindness, and asked repeatedly, or made so many requests.
Abraham spoke on behalf of the people of Sodom when he asked God if He would destroy the city if there were fifty righteous people there, then he asked again, and finally, he asked one more time.
Genesis 18:32 (ESV) Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”
Gideon could not believe the Lord had chosen him to deliver his people, so he asked for a sign. The sign which should have been good enough to convince weak-hearted Gideon wasn’t – so he asked for one more.
Judges 6:39 (ESV) Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
Samson failed miserably in the fact that he gave into temptation, lost his strength and became the focus of mockery. However, even in his failure, Samson’s request for one more time from God did not go unheard.
Judges 16:28 (ESV) Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
The lesson in the Bible is clear. God’s mercy has no limits. Don’t stop asking, even if you have asked a million times, even if you feel like you have driven God to His limit, or you feel the request is menial – keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking – “one more time,” then ask again.
Matthew 7:7–8 (ESV) — 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
