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From the Word: Ask, Seek, and Knock
Posted on January 6th, 2010 in Faith, From the Word by Fred McKinnon
7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7: 7-8, ESV, YouVersion.Com)
Over the Christmas holidays my Dad and I were having a talk about this Scripture. (Pause to give thanks for a strong, Christian family and parents who are inspiring leaders in their faith!) My Dad was saying how this verse really challenges him because his “success rate” of answered prayers isn’t as high as he’d like. I think that applies to all of us.
Of course, I brought up the fact that we read later in Scripture (James 4) that sometimes the reason we don’t get what we ask for is because we are asking “amiss”, or contrary to God’s will. (then again, I’ve seen God answer prayers when the answer wasn’t his plan … remember this prayer that God answered “give us a King, give us a King ..”)
This morning I am meditating on this verse. It would do us good to meditate on it for a long time. Something peculiar stood out for me this morning. Jesus doesn’t just say “ask and it will be given”. He gives us not one, not two, but THREE ACTION WORDS. There are THREE verbs together here. This tells me that “asking” alone isn’t enough.
ASK.
SEEK.
KNOCK. (persistence, right?)
Take for example, a guy who lost his job and needs a new one. You can “ask” God for a new job all day long. But I don’t think that prayer will be answered necessarily, if that’s all you do.
ASK for a job.
SEEK for a job, search online, scan the newspapers, ask your friends, post bulletins at your church.
KNOCK on some doors. Ask people. Interview. Submit resumes. Do call backs. Do followups.
As we pray and expect God to answer our prayers, think of these 3 action words, and how you can apply them to that prayer. I’m not sure that simply “asking” is enough.
Comments? Leave’em below!
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5 Responses to “From the Word: Ask, Seek, and Knock”
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I believe you have pretty much nailed this one.
I can’t get away from this concept! I believe you are “right on” with the understanding you have presented. The Lord is constantly trying to show us a “more excellent way”, and I am totally convinced He wants us to have a lot more from Him than we are currently getting. Diligence is an absolute necessity as is an awareness of the fact that we must develop skills in putting this concept into practice. Keep it on the front burner, and let me know of any new insights you receive.
I will, definitely!
Fred, I agree totally with your father. I believe the key is persistence. Persistence in petitioning our Heavenly Father for the things we can be pretty sure of are in His will for our lives. To get to know God takes effort. And Jesus is telling us to be persistent in pursuing God. We should seek Him for more knowledge, wisdom, love and understanding and He will give them to us.
New blog post: From the Word: Ask, Seek, and Knock http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2010/01/06/ask-seek-knock/