Skip to main content

Ask, Seek, Knock...

           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.  “Which of you, if your 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)

We all tend to like to pull the first and second verses in this passage out of context. Everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds. To everyone who knocks the door is opened. So, here’s my prayer… “Father, will you please give me a Tardis with a replicator[1], so that I can fit a gourmet kitchen with a walk in pantry and freezer, a master bedroom with a sitting area and fire place, a full-sized bathroom with a sunken tub and separate shower, a nice cozy parlor and an office fit for a best-selling author and world-conquering master-criminal, a root cellar, exercise room, computerized observatory, butterfly habitat, community feeding garden, laundry room, craft room, and library (and whatever else I think of) in it, and be able to replicate for myself any piece of furniture, art, or whatever I might want?” It sounds like my version of “Santa Baby.” Don’t the first couple verses guarantee that I’ll get my wish list?

But Jesus doesn’t leave it at “Ask…seek…knock.” He goes on to point out that good parents don’t give their kids bad gifts when they ask for good. It seems to follow logically that if good parents won’t give the kids bad gifts then they ask for good, they also won’t give bad gifts when the kids ask for bad. Instead, they’ll give good gifts, or wait until the kids change their minds.

We tell ourselves we aren’t kids. We are adults. We have the right and maturity to make up our own minds and should be allowed to make our own mistakes. But those who have been parents know that you never stop being parents, and they’ve been through the stage that their kids are going through. The real; question is “Do we trust our heavenly Father enough to believe that this thing He’s given us is a good thing?”


[1] Can someone explain to me why we can’t have ten Mr. Spocks, or beam up a dead body and have it be alive? Sorry. I do like Star Trek, but…

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more