Monday 16th September
Read Matthew 7:7-8
“‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (NIVUK)
When one first encounters these words in the Sermon on the Mount they are often quite challenging. The first challenge is to one’s prayer life and the assumption that we will be regular and persistent. The second concerns our expectations concerning the response to those prayers. Our expectations are often coloured by other sayings of Jesus about mountains being thrown into the sea. At first glance these words seem like an open cheque – ask and it will be given, seek and you will find and knock and gain guaranteed entry. But our experience over many years has led us to doubt the truth of these words. Many prayers seem unanswered, solutions not found, and doors remain closed.
As usual though the context clarifies what Jesus is saying. Jesus has warned His followers extensively about the dangers of rushing to judgment because we are often blind to our own biases and too often focus on the faults of others rather then humbly reflecting on what we ourselves deserve. In order to avoid the other extreme of never exercising judgment at all, Jesus warns us to be discriminating in our speech. It is such a narrow path to walk, between indiscriminate acceptance and humble discernment, that despair of ever getting it right is real.
In that context Jesus then encourages us to ask, seek and knock. Prayer is the only way through to wisdom and discernment. Asking, seeking and knocking down God’s door for wisdom and righteousness and insight into His will are prayers that are always answered. James is reflecting on this in his wisdom letter. “You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:2c-3) (NIVUK)
Are we asking for the right things in the right way for the right motives?
