When We Don't Get the Answer We Want

Matthew 7:1-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Ask, Seek, Knock

    ⁷ “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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

   ⁹ “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:%207-%2012&version=NIV1984)

There is a progression in this passage that I think may be important to note.  First Jesus tells us to ask, He then tells us to seek, and then knock.  Let’s look at each one and consider what He might be telling us.

Ask

At the time of this writing it is Christmas time and there are a lot of people asking for things.  Some of them are realistic and others are not.  Children all across this earth are dreaming about the perfect Christmas morning when they will receive the gifts that they have been asking for but what if they don’t get it?  Sometimes it is the same way with us.  We ask our Father and expect to receive but it is not always the gift that we expected or for that matter even wanted.  Why does this happen?  It isn’t because He can’t afford it or just can’t produce it, He can do all things, after all He created the earth and everything in it.  Could it be because what we are asking for, although seems good, will not benefit us?  Could it be that He has an even better plan for us?  That is when we need to look further and see that He tells us to “seek”.

Seek

What does it mean to seek?  We play hide and go seek and we look everywhere we can think of to find the one that is hiding.  Sometimes we find them and other times we don’t.  Jesus tells us to seek Him.  If we don’t understand the answer maybe we don’t know the One who is in control quite well enough.  We need to seek Him out, go to scriptures and read His word, talk to Him and ask for clarification.  Sometimes when a two year old doesn’t understand the reason for something they ask “Why?” and we try to clarify with another resounding “Why?” until they finally understand the response or get distracted by something else.  A while back I compared Moses to a two year old who kept asking God for clarification but in the end God spoke and Moses obeyed.  He wants us to seek Him, He wants us to understand His ways and then He tells us to knock.

Knock

A knock is a persistent sound that, when heard, is generally answered.  The other day I was working in the kitchen while my husband, who was working the night shift, was stirred from his sleep by what he thought was knocking.  He got up when it persisted to go see who was at the door.  It was just me chopping food in the kitchen but the persistence caused a response.  Sometimes a knock can be a simple, “I am here, could you let me in?” and other times it can be a frantic knock saying, “Let me in quickly”.  We can be assured that when we knock on our Savior’s door that we will get a response.  Another scripture concerning knocking came to my mind when I read this.  It can be found in Revelation 3:20  “²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203:20&version=NIV1984)  In this scripture passage Jesus is revealing to John the condition of the church in Laodicea.  They thought they were blessed because they had riches but their riches were not of the Heavenly nature but of the world’s nature.  Jesus loved them anyway and so He rebuked them telling them to be earnest and repent.  Then he says that He is waiting at the door to let them in.  My question to you to twofold, first of all, whose door are you knocking on?  Is it someone you know, that you have sought out and know His ways?  Secondly, How have you been knocking at His door?  Are you earnest?  Have you repented?  Before we knock, let’s make sure we know who is going to answer.  When He knocks, He already knows you and He is ready to receive you.  When you knock, do you know Him and are you ready to receive whatever He has to give you?

If we have asked and we have sought Him you can be sure there will be a response when we knock.  But note, when Jesus gives an illustration He shows us that any man will give his son good things not bad.  Have you ever thought that maybe if the answer is “no” it is because of what you are asking for.  Maybe you are asking for a snake but God gives you fish.  Maybe what you are asking for is a rock but God gives you bread.  My family gives me a hard time about how I spoil our granddaughter.  They say I give her anything that she asked for.  Well, if she asked for a knife to play with, I wouldn’t give it to her and if she ran out in the street I would tell her no.  That is how our Heavenly Father treats us, He gives us what is good not always what we ask for.

Now the last part of this scripture might seem a little out of place.  It is the golden rule,  “¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Jesus was a perfect example of this lifestyle.  He treated others as He would have wanted to be treated.  How are you treating your fellow man?  How are you treating your Heavenly Father?  If you are asking, are you asking for the right reason?  Are you seeking out His will in your life?  If so, knock and the door will be opened but if you are asking something that is not for your good then thank Him for taking care of you.  Wait patiently, sit quietly, seek Him and knock for He is there waiting for you.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila