GOD PROMISES TO ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE
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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
The Sermon on the Mount contains many promises, and this is one of them. It is actually one promise stated in three ways: ask and you will get, seek and you will find, and knock and the door will open.
“ASKING” is something done verbally. The speaker must initiate the conversation with a question. The question won’t be answered nor the request filled until it is asked. When we ask for something that is in His will (1 John 5:14-15) He promises to provide it. If it is a true need, direction, comfort, forgiveness, strength, forgiveness or anything else, we will receive it from Him.
Esther sought direction and guidance about what she should do to save her fellow Jews from annihilation (Esther 4:15-16). God was with her and led her to approach the king, who responded favorably and saved the whole nation.
“SEEKING” is done visually. Again, we initiate by looking for something: an answer, a solution or insight. We may seek comfort, encouragement, peace, reconciliation for a relationship, meaning and purpose in life, friendship and companionship, or victory in a struggle. God promises He will provide it for us.
The woman at the well was seeking truth in life, and wanted something to quench the inner thirst she was feeling (John 4:1-26). She found what she was looking for when Jesus gave her living water, the gift of eternal life.
“KNOCKING” is something we do physically. Once again, we initiate by knocking on a door until it is open. It could be an opportunity we seek or a closer relationship with God we desire. Whatever it is, when we knock, He will open.
Nehemiah went knocking on the door of opportunity when he heard about the bad situation in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1). He prayed, and God opened the door for him to bring his request for help to the king. Artaxerxes not only allowed him to return to Jerusalem, but also helped make the trip a success.
This promise, in 3 forms, is not something to use to gain wealth, health and fame. It speaks of a general lifestyle of coming to God for whatever we need and finding Him always ready to meet our needs. He is not distant and uninterested, nor do we have to beg or jump through hoops to get His attention. He is available whenever we come to Him, like a loving parent is for his child. If the child is casually curious or distracted, he won’t receive much attention or help from the parents. But if he is determined to connect with the parent and gain their assistance, and perseveres in contacting them, he will have it. Jesus told several parables about perseverance to illustrate this same point (persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 or the persistent friend in Luke 11:5-13).
The best word in the verse is the little verb “will.” That’s where the promise lies. He doesn’t say “can” or “might,” God says He WILL. And when God says He will do something, He does it!
I have been praying for many years for my children and grandchildren to have a hunger and thirst to grow closer to God and better know His Word. I ask God to put a desire to ask, seek and knock into their hearts which will last their whole lives. I pray that for myself as well. I challenge you to make that your prayer as well.
On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you stand on the “ask-seek-knock” meter? How serious are you about connecting with God and His Word?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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