Matthew 7:7-8
“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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
The sermon on the mount contains some of Jesus’ most powerful teachings. In this section, Jesus is teaching his followers about prayer. Prayer is the way we talk with God. It’s a means of communicating with Him. God isn’t a distant god. He isn’t sitting far away in heaven. We don’t have to go through complex methods of appeasing Him or gaining His favor. Instead, God is our Heavenly Father.
As our father, God is intimately concerned about us. He is close to us. He cares for us deeply. He is approachable, and He is willing to listen to us and speak with us. Just as it’s easy for us to go to earthly parents when we are young and in need of something, we can approach God when we are in need of something. Just as parents enjoy giving gifts to their children and taking care of their children’s basic needs, God enjoys giving gifts to us and taking care of our basic needs.
There is another aspect of prayer at work here as well–the concept of being persistent in prayer. The words used for ask, seek, and knock indicate that these are ongoing actions. We are to ask and keep asking for the things that we need in our everyday life. If there is any good thing which we do not have and which we need, we are to ask for it and keep asking for it until we receive it. We are to seek and keep seeking for God’s face, for relationship with Him, and for wisdom and knowledge. We should be seeking after those things that are precious to us in our relationship with God as if we were seeking after treasure. We are to knock and keep knocking on the doors of heaven that appear to be closed to us.
Jesus assures us that if we ask and keep asking, we will receive. If we seek and keep seeking, we will find what we are looking for. If we knock and keep knocking, the door will open and we will gain access to the throne of God. And this promise is not limited to the best of the best or to the lucky few, Jesus tells us that this promise is for everyone. God longs to have relationship with us. He longs to take care of our needs. He longs to speak to us and to give us good gifts. He longs to let us into His presence. All we have to do is ask, seek, and knock.
Father, thank you that through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross I have access to your throne room. I can come directly into your presence and speak with you face to face. Thank you that you care for me intimately and deeply. There is nothing that I need that you do not desire to give me. Father, I know that if I have a need I can bring it to you, and you will meet that need. So Father, teach me to ask and keep asking, to seek and keep seeking, and to knock and keep knocking until I know you the way that you want me to know you. My greatest desire is to have an intimate relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Beautiful Mess 