“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7)
This is a promise from Jesus. The promise further mentions in the following verse, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:8) And so we encounter some who ask willy-nilly for whatever they want. I once was asked by a sister to pray because she wanted a swimming pool. Then there are others who don’t ask, thinking their needs are not important to the Lord. Others don’t ask because they don’t believe God’s promise is for them. And there are those who believe and ask only for those things they think are important. I’m sure there are lots of other scenarios and reasons why people ask or don’t ask.
As for that sister that asked for a swimming pool, she got it. But I think, isn’t it wonderful that the greatest need that she asked prayer for was a swimming pool. There was nothing else in her life, in her family or inner circle that was lacking, that needed help, no sickness nor difficulty. But then again, those were other times. Today there is need everywhere. And difficulty is normal because of the times. We have to be in prayer. We have to believe God for ourselves, our family (natural family and church family) and friends.
Jesus said ask, seek and knock. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell of when the apostles rebuked the children for coming to Jesus. But only Mark and Luke write the exact same thing that Jesus said, “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” (Mark 10:14-15; Luke 18:16,17) How does a child come to his father? He has all the faith that his father will give him all that he can. He knows that all he has to do is ask. Our heavenly Father in heaven is better than the best dad on earth. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11) He will give you whatever you ask, if He can. Does that mean that God is limited? Yes, God is limited by us. Sometimes we ask for things that will harm us either spiritually or in other ways. Sometimes we ask for something, but God has something else better. Sometimes we ask, but doubt. Don’t think you’ll get anything. James was talking about wisdom, but it goes for all things. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” (James 1:6-7)
“Seek and you shall find.” The merchant sought the best pearls, but when he found the pearl of great price, he sold everything he had to buy it. (Matthew 13:45,46) And there is the parable of the hidden treasure. This man found it and sold everything to buy the land where it was. (Matthew 13:44) What are you seeking? This is not just something we want. Many don’t know what they’re seeking. They go here and there, in one bar and another, in one religion and another and in one church and another actually seeking what they’re craving in their deepest soul. And it’s not in anything found in the world or any pleasure and not even in any church. It’s a relationship with God. The soul of a person is empty without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And that only happens when we believe and receive God greatest gift to man, salvation through Jesus. All things align then and there is perfect peace. But like the merchant seeking pearls and the man who found the hidden treasure, we must sell everything we have. Knowing Jesus is more valuable than all the gold. It is wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) And that is “..better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” (Proverbs 3:13-14)
Lastly, Jesus says “knock and it shall be opened.” Whatever we want is on the other side of a door. It’s there for us, reserved for when we want it. But we have to knock. Guess who answers the door? It’s the Lord. He is the giver of all good gifts. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Everything is through Him. “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)
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