April 09 and 11, 2012
Ask—and God will give to you.
Search—and you will find.
Knock—and the door will open for you.
When we search after holiness we will find it. (Jeremiah 29:13) What we think we want, and what HE knows we need may be as opposite as night and day. When we ask, search, and knock for Him, HE reveals Himself to us and HE gives us what we need—HIM. Hosea 14:8 - "I, the Lord, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree. Your blessings come from me." He knows what we need. "How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11) Not "things" as in the way the world views things such as wealth and possessions, with the "one who dies with the most toys wins" philosophy. No. Jesus is talking about providing for us the things we need. Salvation. Blessings. Protection. A glimpse of His own heart.
Jesus goes on. There are two kinds of people. People who build their lives upon Him and His principles and those who are do-it-your-self-er's, people with an "I'll do it my way" attitude who build their lives upon their own selfish dreams and desires. A classic IF—THEN.
Next Entry: Matthew 7:1–29 (Continued)
Ask—and God will give to you.
Search—and you will find.
Knock—and the door will open for you.
"Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened." Matthew 7:7This is another passage of scripture that is often misused and abused. Jesus is not saying that anything "we" want; anything "we" search for; anything "we" desire; is what He will give us. He wants us to have a heart that asks, searches, and knocks—for HIM—and not our own selfish desires.
When we search after holiness we will find it. (Jeremiah 29:13) What we think we want, and what HE knows we need may be as opposite as night and day. When we ask, search, and knock for Him, HE reveals Himself to us and HE gives us what we need—HIM. Hosea 14:8 - "I, the Lord, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree. Your blessings come from me." He knows what we need. "How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11) Not "things" as in the way the world views things such as wealth and possessions, with the "one who dies with the most toys wins" philosophy. No. Jesus is talking about providing for us the things we need. Salvation. Blessings. Protection. A glimpse of His own heart.
Jesus goes on. There are two kinds of people. People who build their lives upon Him and His principles and those who are do-it-your-self-er's, people with an "I'll do it my way" attitude who build their lives upon their own selfish dreams and desires. A classic IF—THEN.
"Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit the house, and it fell with a big crash." Matthew 7:24-27The power of self-deception is amazing. We (people) choose to believe nothing bad will happen to us. But think about it!! Why wouldn't it happen to us if we are deliberately disobeying God's words? What would ever possess us to think we are somehow exempt? It is lies from the devil himself. If he can get us to be self-sufficient instead of God-reliant, then he has us right where he wants us—under his control.
Next Entry: Matthew 7:1–29 (Continued)
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