“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:8-11
In our human parenting experiences, we desire to give good gifts to our children. Since we aren’t perfect, our gifts might be lacking or even border on indulgent. If we take our good intentions and multiply them by infinity we have a faint idea of our heavenly Father’s gracious heart towards us. He is perfect, he never makes mistakes. The Cross proves his love for us, He has already given us his very best in his Son. We can trust him.
Jesus uses “much more than” reasoning. He draws a line of trust from the human to the divine, from the lesser to the greater. God knows much more than we do, he cares much more than we do, and he is much more powerful than we are. God even cares much more about answering our requests than we do in having them answered. Here in is our invitation to trust, to pray to our good Father.
He hears our prayers. Asking, seeking, knocking, implies there is someone there to listen and to answer. The Greek choice of words means to continually and persistently ask; and keep asking. Seek and keep seeking. Knock and keep knocking. The Sermon on the Mount describes an extraordinary way to live, and Jesus does not leave us without the resources to do so. This verse gives us simple instructions with a simple invitation. Persistent prayer is our life line. We need his continual assistance to do and be all he asks.
He answers. Our good Father knows what we need. Communication with him strengthens our relationship. This verse is full of assurance: you will receive, you will find, and the door will be opened, to those who ask. The invitation is wide open for disciples coming to their Father asking for the good things of his Kingdom. We must also trust in his answers. Acknowledge your trust in your heavenly Father today by making a list of some of the good things you see around you and have experienced. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5
By Donna Burns
