As we’ve been moving through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has been teaching us what to value, how to trust God for our own needs, and how to conduct ourselves with others. Today, Jesus shows us how to receive the full measure of the Kingdom that He has for us.
The secret? Ask… Seek… Knock
“Ask and it will be given to you” Jesus shows us that we must approach God in prayer for what we need. God is willing to give us the richness of Heaven, but He does not give it if we do not ask Him for it. Most people never even know to ask.
“Seek and you will find” It’s not enough to just pray a prayer once and hope to receive His blessing. We must go after Him for it. We must be hungry for more of God in our lives. Seek Him. Understand Him and what He’s doing. Worship Him. And do not give up on this seeking until you have what you are after.
“Knock and the door will be opened to you” Action on our part is required as well. He does not want you sitting around doing nothing and hoping that your situation changes without doing a thing. Sometimes He will give clear direction on which way to go. Sometimes it will not be so clear, but He wants us to be active in the lives He has called us to live.
For example, if you desire a deeper spiritual experience with God in your life, find others who are further along and learn from them. If you feel called to have a great business that is making a huge difference in the world, but don’t know where to begin, decide where you could start and start small. If you desire wisdom in an area of life, find those who can teach and learn from them.
All great blessings in life come directly from God as you are changed, but these small interactions and experiences in life are the conduit He uses.
“…how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” God wants to give you every good thing! Ask Him, Seek Him, & Knock and you will receive what you are looking for so long as it is in your best interest. And if it is not, you will come to understand this in your seeking Him.
It’s interesting that Jesus ties to the end of this teaching the idea that we should “do to others what you would have them do to you.” God want us to all live in harmonious community with those we love as with those we can’t stand. If He ends this teaching on this note, you know this is one of the most important things.
Can you add anything to this? Or share a story of this happening in your life? We’d love to hear it, and invite a friend!