just ask

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Psalm 89:19-52; Matthew 7:7-12


For everyone who asks receives,
and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
(Matthew 7:8)

Rather than giving us a blank check here, which only leads to frustration to the misguided pray-er, Jesus seems to be speaking to disciples about real needs, honest concerns that his followers have. The image he uses of providing basic food needs. That which is needed to continue as a follower of Jesus will be provided.

He’s not saying “for everyone who asks for anything at all, whatever their corrupt hearts desire… will receive it.” Rather, I think he’s sharing another basic principle here. The only way you receive is by asking, the only way you find is by seeking, and the only way that door is going to open is if you knock on it.

Again, Jesus shares his “how much more” teaching with regard to prayer and our needs (he already has taught us, in chapter 6, (1) to pray “give us this day our daily bread” and (2) not to worry about our lives, what we will eat or drink). Any parent whose hungry child asks for something to eat will give the child something inedible or dangerous. How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

If we are asking God for something good for us, we can be assured that he will give it. But we need to ask, seek, and knock. Bishop Guernsey last week shared that he has found people often don’t pray because they think they’re requests are either too big for God, or that they aren’t significant enough for us to bring to him. That is, in effect, we believe either he isn’t powerful enough or he is compassionate enough to deal with our prayer requests. This leaves a tiny fuzzy middle of “appropriate” things to ask God about, and therefore we ask for little or nothing.

Jesus tells his disciples to ask, seek and knock. This is our part. We can trust that God hears, cares, and can and will act for our good as we follow him and serve him in his kingdom mission.