“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:7-11
“Why Do We Ask in Prayer?” C.H. Spurgeon said, “Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom.” Richard Foster, in his book, “Prayer: Finding The Hearts True Home” poses and answers this question to the body of Christ. “Do you know why the mighty God of the universe chooses to answer prayer? It is because his children ask. God delights in our asking. He is pleased at our asking. His heart is warmed by our asking.”
Now that’s an easy message and promise to understand. But let me dig a little deeper in this passage to help us a little. There are two things, besides the promise I want you to see. First of all, the words, “Ask . . . Seek . . . and Knock . . . are all commands. You wouldn’t know that unless you could see it in the original language but those statements by Jesus are his charge to us. In other words, Jesus is saying, “Do it this way!” It’s not an appeal to our reason as much as it is our will.
Secondly, these commands are written in the continuous action, meaning we are to keep doing what Jesus says about prayer until we get an answer. A good literal interpretation would be, “Ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking.” In other words, be persistent and don’t give up.
Richard Foster adds, “In a childlike expression of faith we bring our daily needs and desires to our heavenly Father. None of us would give our children a stone if they asked for bread, says Jesus. None of us would give them a snake if they requested a fish. No, even we who are filled with our own self-centered agendas and are far from perfect, respect the most fundamental codes of parent-child relationships. All the more, then God, who lovingly respects us and joyfully gives to us when we ask.
My friends, remember that we are encouraged to “Be devoted to prayer because He is always listening. Maranatha!
Pastor Don
