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We are confronted with an essential teaching from the Lord in the passage of Matthew 7:7-11:
*"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."*
This scripture provides us a pathway for communication with God that demands perseverance and faith. It calls believers to engage actively with a faith that persists through asking, seeking, and knocking. Herein lies the profound promise of divine response, assurance from our Heavenly Father, whose inclination is to give good gifts to His children.
These words of Jesus come from the Sermon on the Mount, a pivotal portion of His teaching ministry found in the Gospel of Matthew. The audience consisted of His disciples and a multitude gathered to hear His teachings. Jesus presented these truths within a larger discourse that began with the Beatitudes and continued through various essential tenets of Kingdom living.
The people listening were predominantly Jewish, living under Roman occupation, well-versed in religious practices and the Law of Moses. Jesus’ teaching contrasted with the prevailing religious practices, challenging them to see God as a loving Father rather than a distant deity. This was revolutionary, bringing hope in a spiritual climate often characterized by legalism and ritualism.
The Greek word for "ask" in this passage is "αἰτέω" (aiteo), which means more than just a simple request. It denotes a strong desire, an appeal made with a sense of urgency and dependency. This implies that our requests to God should not be casual or half-hearted.
Another important word here is "knock," translated from "κρούω" (krouo), meaning to strike with purpose and persistence. In biblical times, doors required knocking to gain entry, symbolizing determination and expectant faith.
Understanding these terms unveils the depth of Jesus’ teaching: our approach to God should be earnest and persistent, emanating from a heart that fully trusts in His nature and intentions.
### Ask and It Will Be Given to You
First, Jesus presents the command to *ask*. Here, He is inviting His followers to reach out to God with their needs. This aligns with His own example as He consistently withdrew to pray. James 4:2 confirms, "You do not have because you do not ask God." Prayer is the ordained means by which God’s blessings are often realized.
### Seek and You Will Find
Seeking involves actively pursuing God’s will with intention and anticipation. Jeremiah 29:13 assures us, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." It suggests an inner longing for God’s truth and presence, which is available to those truly dedicated to finding Him.
### Knock and It Will Be Opened to You
To *knock* conveys a continued effort to gain access. Revelation 3:20 reflects this imagery where Jesus stands at the door and knocks, a call for enduring response on our part. It reminds us of the unshakeable promise of divine openness and the hospitality of God.
### The Assurance of God's Nature
Jesus continues with an illustration, highlighting a father's natural inclination to provide for his children. If earthly fathers, flawed and imperfect, know how to give good gifts, how much more will our Father in heaven, pure and loving, give good things? Notably, in the Gospel of Luke, this is expanded to the giving of the Holy Spirit, underscoring that heaven's choicest blessings are available to those who seek.
To actualize this teaching in our lives, consider these steps:
1. Develop a Consistent Prayer Life: Engage with God daily through prayer; make asking, seeking, and knocking a habitual practice, not just an occasional emergency protocol.
2. Cultivate Expectant Faith: Approach God with the confidence that He hears and desires to answer according to His will. Trust in His nature as a good Father.
3. Persistent Seeking: Do not grow weary in prayer. Inhabit a posture of consistent expectation, knowing that sometimes God’s answers come through learning in His timing.
4. Desire the Holy Spirit: Be open to receiving the Holy Spirit’s fullness as the ultimate gift from God. Pray for His presence to lead and sustain you in all endeavors.
Proclamation:
In the authority of Jesus Christ, I proclaim that as I ask, I will receive; as I seek, I will find; as I knock, the doors will be opened. I am a child of God, and my Father in heaven delights in giving me good gifts, particularly His Holy Spirit, who empowers me in all things.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come before You in humility and faith, asking for Your presence and guidance. I seek the wisdom and fullness of Your Spirit in my life. May I be persistent in prayer, unwavering in faith, knowing that You are a good Father who hears and answers. Teach me to trust in Your perfect timing and provision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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