Jan 25 - Matthew 7:7

 

Ask and it will

be given to you;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door

will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

 

Once upon a time, Jesus told a story. He wanted to show that it was necessary for people to pray consistently and never quit. So he said, “There was once a judge who never gave God a thought. And he cared nothing for people!

 

“Now, in that same city, there was a widow. She had a need, and she kept after this judge. Demanding justice, she cried, ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’

 

“Now,” said Jesus, “The judge never gave her the time of day. But after this went on … and on … and on … he finally said to himself, ‘I care nothing about what God thinks. I care even less about what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’ve got to do something. I guess I’ll see that she gets justice. (Otherwise, I’m going to end up being beaten black-and-blue by her pounding!)’”

 

Then Jesus said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying?”

 

That – more or less – is the Message paraphrase of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 7. And the question is: Do you hear what the judge is saying? Actually, the question really is: Do you hear what Jesus is saying?

 

There are two types of parables – especially when Jesus is speaking about God. One type of parable is, “God is like …” This is not a “God is like” parable!!! God is not like an unjust judge. He loves you. He cares for you. He desires to answer your questions. He desires to bless your life.

 

Therefore, this is a “how much more” type of parable. If an unjust judge will finally relent and answer if you pester him, how much more will a loving Father desire to answer your prayers! Therefore – and here’s the Greek sense of today’s verse – Ask (and keep on asking) and it will be given to you; seek (and keep on seeking) and you will find; knock (and keep on knocking) and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who had a

sixth-grade teacher

who had us work

hundreds of

seek and finds;

I guess she was

trying to prepare

me for prayer