Matthew 7:7-11
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. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (ESV)
“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength – carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” – Corrie Ten Boom
That is why the Lord says that we are not to worry about the day of tomorrow.
Other things that make us anxious are judging people – finding them as inadequate as our supplies.
The Lord is still on the theme of not being anxious – that we are not to worry about tomorrow, time, treasure and ties (our relationships) and to cherish that which is holy.
Marcus Aurelius said:
“Today I escaped from anxiety – or no – I discarded it, because it was within me. It was in my own perceptions, not outside of me. Because in the end our best and truest power is not over circumstances – it’s over ourselves. And righteous exercise of that power over yourself, is what brings you peace in action.”
The Apostle Paul, as the Lord Jesus in our texts, says the same thing.
They say that instead of being anxious we ought to do three things: Ask, seek and knock.
As you faithfully do this, you will live a life of receiving, of finding and of being opened for – of welcome – of wealth and well-being (having sufficient of all that you need – not meaning health, wealth and prosperity).
The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4 tells us exactly the same thing, expounding what the Lord Jesus said in a most wonderful way.
- Ask
Disciples should come to God in humility and awareness of need (from the footnotes of the ESV Study Bible). - Seek
Seeking connects ones prayer with responsible action in pursuing the will of God. - Knock
Knocking suggests perseverance, especially when God delays His answer. Disciples are to persist in prayer – confident that their Father will provide whatever is best for them, according to His sovereign, gracious wisdom and will.
It ties in with Phil. 4:6-9 where the Apostle Paul wrote:
“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication (asking) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Here’s the seeking): 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things (knocking), and the God of peace will be with you.” (ESV)
When you knock on the LORD’s door of glory, it’s for Him to open so that you can be with the God of peace.
How do we ask God? In humility and awareness of need, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving (Phil. 4v6).
We must pray right because Jesus is our Priest.
We must think right because Jesus is our Prophet.
We must live right because Jesus is our King.
The three offices of our Lord Saviour who tells you to ask, seek and knock – commands, not advice. Listen to your Lord.
Why must we ask, seek and knock? Because He is our Father who knows even better how to take care of His children than we know how to take care of ours.