ASK, SEEK, KNOCK!

Luke 11:9-13 :: New International Version (NIV)

⁹So I say to you: Ask [and keep on asking] and it will be given to you; seek [and keep on seeking] and you will find; knock [and keep on knocking] and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

[Note: All emphases in the above quotation are supplied by myself.]

I was contemplating this scripture this morning in my personal devotional time. Several thoughts came to mind. First of all is persistence in prayer and in seeking God. If we want to know God, to experience His Presence and His Spirit we must put forth diligent effort (see Hebrews 11:6). A strong walk with God doesn't just somehow come automatically. Nothing in life that is worthwhile and positive comes without effort on our part. We must keep on asking, seeking, and knocking if we really want to have a close fellowship with God. God meets us more than half way when we make even a small amount of effort.

Verse 13 has been a most precious verse to me for many, many years. There have been times when I felt spiritual dryness was trying to come upon me or when I felt so unprepared to preach or teach a Bible lesson and I would go before the Lord and claim this precious promise "how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" I have found every time without fail that the Holy Spirit would come upon me to meet whatever the need may happen to be. I thank God for that! Times without end I have just made my feeble effort to remind God of this wonderful promise and that blessed Presence would just fill my heart. That is a work a God's grace pure and simple but I've felt that I needed to do my part and ask, seek, and knock and then just watch how lovingly God fulfills all of His good promises to His children. Try it and see for yourself! Praise His holy name!

Written by Tom Durst of Spokane WA
tomdurst1@msn.com