Matthew 7:7 “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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jesus has cautioned his listeners regarding the things of the kingdom. Now he moves his teaching onto a higher plane. In Jesus’ day there were beggars. If you went to the market place, there were beggars. If you went to the temple, there were beggars. If you were invited to dine at a rich man’s home, you could expect several beggars would be outside the door, hoping that rich guests would feel generous. It’s quite possible that somewhere in the crowd that was listening to Jesus , there were beggars hoping that people’s hearts would be touched. In many parts of the world, there are still beggars. One of the most difficult decisions we face when we travel to our regional capital of Tamale is the beggar question: to give or not to give? And the decision is never an easy one. Do you give to a fellow who can walk but who has one crippled arm? Do you give to a blind old lady, and is she really blind? What about mothers with twins sitting outside the central mosque?
Many beggars are very persistent! If you are parked at a traffic light, beggars will tap on your windows or wave at you, trying to get your attention. Does begging pay? For some people, the answer is yes. Years ago in Accra there was a crippled man who was begging close to the center of town. A charitable organization decided to help him, so they sent him for vocational training and got him a wheel chair. But when he realized that he had been making more money begging on the street corner than he could make working a regular job, he returned to begging!
As the crowd was listening to Jesus, the ultra religious people were probably looking down their noses at the poorer people and most particularly at the beggars. But wait! What’s this? Jesus is COMMENDING BEGGING! And Jesus is even suggesting that in matters of relating to God, we should be as persistent as the beggars on the street.
Many people claim to want the will of God, but when it comes right down to it, they are lazy. It’s as if they hope that God is going to drop a scroll in their laps, indicating His will. Jesus encourages us that we should be serious about seeking God, that we should even pester God until God answers. And Jesus promises that if we are stubborn and persistent, we will be blessed.
How can we know the will of God? We must study His Word. God is not going to do anything that contradicts what He has already given us in the Bible. We should pray, simply asking God and then waiting for answers. And we should always remember that the mark of the Holy Spirit is the peace that passes understanding. No peace means that we need to keep seeking, asking, and knocking.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are a good Father and that you long for your children to seek you! Please help us to be persistent in matters of the Kingdom and to keep seeking, asking, and knocking on your doors until you answer us. But help us to recognize that your answers may be different than our requests and to accept your perfect will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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