I mean, knock on the door!

 

'And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Luke 11:9

Let me put that into other words!

Jesus was speaking about how benevolent and wonderful our Father in heaven is. He tells us to ask in expectation and with the confidence that he is ready, willing, and able to answer our requests abundantly from out of his riches and unlimited goodness. 

This is all about relationship. It leads us from distance to closeness; from knowledge to knowing.

It is sometimes necessary to really seek for such things as we desire, which takes us to a higher level of request; for God looks to see how much we trust him, how much we know of him, and how deep our desires really are to receive what we ask.

'Seeking' means looking diligently for the answer, tuning over every stone that might be in the way; and in taking time to find where God has hidden the treasure and blessing he knows we desire.  (Isaiah 45:3)

Then Jesus leads us a step further up the staircase of relationship with God. He talks about knocking; knocking on the door of the palace, on the door of the kingdom, on the door of all grace and sufficiency, on the door of the Throne Room.

First, we must come to the door in order to knock. There may be a bit of a journey to the door, and many hindrances and distractions on the way. We may meet people along the road who will guide us to the door, (or discourage us from going any further); but upon reaching it, we must knock. If at first there is no answer, no movement in the house, then let us knock a bit more.

And we must keep knocking until we see a light come on.

If still the door is not opened, then let us bang on it so loudly, that the angels hear us and carry our requests up higher!

The Master of the house will most surely come (though he wait some good while at times), and say, “Yes, my dear child, what is it that you need?”

In all these things there is a sense of persistency. Ask, and keep on asking; seek, and keep on seeking; knock, and keep on knocking until you hear the footsteps of Him who says Yes!

Read the passage in Luke’s gospel: Luke 11

‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’  Matthew 7:11

Have you ever played 'hide and seek' with your parents or your children? Why do you hide? Is it because you do not want them to know where you are? Is it that you just want them to keep away from you?

No! Of course not. You want them to seek you out. You want to be found!

You make some noise to give them a hint of where you might be, but then keep quiet while they look everywhere to discover you. The joy of a father is hearing and watching them really search for him! It is also being found and discovered that brings a thrill and excitement to both the children and the father.

And if we, being fallen and sinful creatures, know how to give good things to our little ones, HOW MUCH MORE shall our heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him, seek him, and knock on the door of heaven?

God says that if we seek him, he will be found of us. 

‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end [the things you hoped for]. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hear you. And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

And I will be found of you, says the LORD.’  (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

Pilgrim Warrior