A Question About Asking
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7 has become a recurring verse for abiding daily. I find that the odd simplicity of Jesus’s words here always catches my attention. I’m caught between two thoughts. First, I obviously know that being a Christian does not mean I can ask for anything and just receive it. Secondly, I have seen over and over how God provided for his people just because they asked.
This tension is one of many tensions that I believe we are called to carry as believers. Kris Vallotton was the first person to describe this for me. In one of his messages, he opened my ideas to the idea of carrying truth in tension. There are some things about the kingdom of God that are too deep for us to simply label them black or white. Learning that there is divine truth in many areas of grey helps us explore our faith more deeply.
Of course, there are many things that Jesus defines in black and white, like loving the Lord and loving others. But if you want to get a sense of the subversive message of Jesus, just read the beatitudes in Matthew 5.
All this to say, I am wondering how we respond to verses like Matthew 7:7. How do we increasingly live a life of asking and receiving while not losing sight of the kingdom of God, his values, and his mission? Admittedly, we all have a few things that come to mind that we wish to ask for that are pure self-interest. Then again, I have asked God for houses, instruments, and vehicles, and he has provided them again and again.
To fully live out what Jesus was teaching, we must have a deep root of love for Jesus. Paul talks about this in Colossians 2:6-7 ESV, saying, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” When we fix our energy on living our life in Christ-like this, the true meaning of asking and receiving becomes clear.
In many ways, Jesus’s message is a message of hope, not a promise of endless jackpots. I invite you to read the first part of Matthew 7, even exploring more parts of the sermon on the mount, and ask yourself what Jesus might be saying through these words. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and hunger for more of his word.
All-New Podcast
Go further with the ministry of Abiding Daily by listening to our podcast. We just released our first episode that you can stream on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can always listen directly on our website here.
-
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
-
Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.
