Devotional: Ask and Receive Matthew 7:7-12

The police officer knocks on the door. He has the unwanted task of telling the young woman that her dad has been robbed and killed. When the young woman hears the news she is in shock and disbelief. She asks, “Why?” Why did the killer find it necessary to kill her dad? Her dad would have given the killer anything if he had only asked. Her dad was the type of person that would help anybody. That’s just the kind of person that her dad was.

You and I have a dad just like this. He is in heaven. There is nothing that we need that He will not give to us if we ask. That’s just the kind of Father that our God is. James tells us that murder, quarrels and conflict, and fights take place in the human community because we do not ask for what we want. Even when we do ask, we ask for the wrong motives (Jas. 4:1-3). Jesus wants to instill into us a different ethic.

Jesus teaches us that our nature and quality of our relationship with other people is largely determined by our relationship with God. Our attitude and actions toward other people is a reflection of our relationship with the Father. What do I think about my Father? Is my Father kind, generous, compassionate, merciful, and full of grace and truth? Or, do I believe that God will withhold from me the things that I desire? Are my desires based on my greed, selfishness, and envy? What will I do with the things that I desire? Do I pray to God? Do I ask God for what I want? What is my motive when I pray to God.

Jesus tells us that our motive must be from a pure heart. God will not give us what is holy to be squandered away on unholy things. He says, “‘Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces’” (7:6). The eyes of Jesus are clear. There is no log in His eyes.

Jesus says to those that have pure motives that they can come to the Father and ask for what they need. He says, “‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (v. 7, NASB). God will not withhold anything. “He will give what is good to those who ask Him” (v.11). The way that we treat others is based on our relationship with the Father. Jesus adds these words: “‘in everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (v. 12).

Prayer: Lord God we thank you for all that You give to us. I pray that I will be generous to others just as You are generous to me. Amen.