Ask, Seek, Knock

-


Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Devotion:

            This scripture contains a wonderful promise. The surrounding verses indicate that these statements are all concerning prayer. We are often very skeptical about prayer as we have all had fervent prayer apparently answered by silence from heaven. So, we wonder whether those who ask, knock, and seek will truly receive, find, or have a door opened for them. We try all kinds of justification for the seeming lack of answers to our prayers from heaven.

Jesus, who is speaking here is unequivocal. The verbs are all imperative meaning they are a command. The promises are all unconditional, meaning no preconditions apply. Since the word of Jesus is truth, how can we understand these promises in light of our experience?

If we are honest, we must say this remains a mystery to us. However, we must be reassured that our prayers never go unanswered. God, our loving Father, always hears our prayers and gives the answer that He in his wisdom and mercy sees is best for us. In this season of waiting, it is difficult for us to wait on God’s answer. We, in our modern culture of instant feedback, find that God is often too slow in answering us for our tastes. However, I have personally observed that God answers us not according to our timetables but according to our need. God will not be hurried in his answering prayer.

This season we call advent should train us impatient disciples in the art of waiting. In a society of microwave meals and on demand entertainment, waiting is foreign to our modern sensibilities. We grow impatient if our computers take more than a few seconds to respond to our commands. Waiting weeks for the Christmas celebrations seems like an eternity. How can we wait when we need Jesus right now? One thing we can know for sure is that Jesus will come right on time. He always does.

God moves in ways that are mysterious to us. Our ways are not His ways. One thing we can know for sure is that God always hears our prayers and answers us. Not according to our whims and wishes but according to our needs. So, we need to do what we are commanded to do in this passage from scripture. Keep on asking, seeking, and knocking and God will answer us in his mercy. Let us pray right now for the answer to our prayers.

Prayer:

            Father in heaven you are a mighty and merciful God. You sent your son 2,000 years ago to be our Savior and Lord. You have provided all we need to receive eternal life with you in heaven. This gift is more than we sinful humans could ever ask for. Forgive us for counting you too slow to answer our petitions. May we seek to learn patience and persistence in our prayer life. Knowing that you will always answer us in due time. Amen. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more