Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
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.
What a promise! Everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks the door is opened. Wow! But what does it mean to ask, seek and knock? Andrew Murray in his book, With Christ In The School of Prayer, states "A difference in meaning has been sought in the words the Lord uses: ask, seek, knock. If it was indeed His purpose for these three words to have distinct meanings, then first, ask, refers to the gifts we pray for. But we may ask and receive the gift without the giver. Seek is the word scripture uses of God himself. Christ assures us that we can find Him. But it is not enough to find God in time of need without coming into abiding fellowship with Him. Knock refers to admission to dwell within Him. Asking and receiving the gift would thus lead to seeking and finding the giver, and from there to the knocking on and opening of the door to the Father's home and love."
Murray goes on and says, "One thing is sure: the Lord wants us to believe most certainly that asking, seeking, and knocking cannot be in vain. Receiving an answer, finding God, and the opening of His heart and home are the certain fruits of prayer."
Ask yourself this question today before you pray, "would I be ok with the gift without the giver?" When you pray, ask God to reveal the true desire of your heart. So often we do care more about the gift then the giver. The greatest gift God can give us is the gift of Himself!
As I wrestle through this in my own prayers, I have realized, I too often want the power without the presence. I too often want the gift without the giver. This struck me pretty hard as I found myself praying for revival recently but questioning whether I wanted the reform in my own life that comes with revival. Prayer of asking, seeking and knocking, as mentioned above, would mean "letting go and letting God." Are you ready to pray this way. Remember, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine!
In Christ, Bryan
Would the gift be any good without the Giver? Or would it suddenly become meaningless/unhelpful/void.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts Mary Billings. Your thoughts reminded me of
ReplyDeleteJohn 6:25-27
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted. Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life-the food that the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him." and John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
To reply to your thought more directly... The gift would become an idol, too often treasured more than God Himself. Solomon found this to be true as he describes in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Everything is meaningless, even Wisdom the gift from God. His conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13 is this, "Fear God and keep His commandments."