Ask, Seek, and Knock #2344

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8, NKJV).

Jesus does more than suggest we pray to the Father for His blessings. The verbs ask, seek, and knock are in the imperative mood, expressing commands. Each action increases in intensity and fervor. Lenski commented, “We ask for what we need; we seek what we earnestly desire; we knock when our desire becomes importunity” (Matthew, 292-293). Furthermore, Christ promises the Father will respond favorably to His children’s pleadings (“will be given,” “will find,” and “it will be opened to you”). Arguing from the lesser to the greater, Jesus went on to assure us that if earthly fathers provide “good gifts” to their children when asked, our heavenly Father will “gives good things” to His children when we entreat Him (Matt. 7:9-11). As children depend on their parents for life’s necessities, Christians rely on our Father in heaven to give us what we truly need. Our trust is not misplaced. Our Father hears and responds to our fervent pleadings. So ask, seek, and knock. Live by faith, and “all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:32-33).

Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness #2339

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31–33, NKJV).

Jesus drives to the heart of the matter. When physical goals and concerns consume us, we start asking the wrong questions. Worry (anxious care) distracts us from God, who knows and supplies our needs. When we seek (crave intensely) physical needs (food, drink, and clothing) before and instead of spiritual needs (the kingdom of God and His righteousness), we are like the faithless Gentiles (those who have no hope and are without God in this world, Eph. 2:11-12). Our primary craving must be the rule and reign of God in our lives and righteousness by faith through the gospel of Christ. We trust God to give us the things that are necessary for our temporary journey on earth. At times we struggle to keep these spiritual priorities in place. The world presses us to conform to its values and expectations. Let us be strengthened in faith and trust the Lord to provide our daily bread as we live for eternal things that will not pass away (Ps. 37:25-26; 2 Cor. 4:17-18).

Looking for Jesus #2157

36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. (Mark 1:36–39, NKJV)

Many people still look for Jesus. He said, “seek, and you will find” (Matt. 7:7). If you are not looking for Jesus, you should be (cf. Jno. 1:45). Scripture says God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). If you are searching for Him, then the relevant question is, “Where are you looking for Jesus?” Some think they find Jesus through religious tradition (cf. Matt. 15:7-14). Others, through an unexpected, even extraordinary personal experience (cf. 2 Thess. 2:9-12). Some preachers tell people belief, and the sinner’s prayer is the way to find Jesus (cf. Acts 9:9, 11; 22:16). I wonder, how many people say they found Jesus through gospel preaching (1 Cor. 1:21-24)? Yet, Jesus said that is why He came to earth (Mk. 1:38, 14-15). People “found” Jesus (they believed and followed Him) when He preached the gospel of the kingdom. If you want to find Jesus, you can (Matt. 10:28-30). Open the gospel He preached and read it, believe it, and obey it (Rom. 10:17; Lk. 6:46; Acts 10:34-35; 2:36-41). Seek, and you will find.

Seek And You Will Find #2058

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6–7, NKJV)

God is “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). Our sins separate us from God, not His lack of love, concern, power, or unwillingness to come to our aid (Isa. 59:1-2). Nothing within ourselves or in this present age can fill the void left in a life without God. The answer to life’s problems, pain, sin, and death is Jesus Christ (Jno. 14:6). God has arranged life on earth and revealed His word in the Bible so that we will seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:27). We must forsake the way of evil and the thoughts of unrighteousness. We must “return to the Lord,” and we do He will be merciful. Full pardon from God for our sins before Him and against others is His promise, fulfilled in Christ (Rom. 5:6-11). A life without God is a life forever groping for meaning and purpose, yet always falling short. But, life with God is full of mercy, forgiveness, and hope. Seek the Lord in Christ and His gospel, and you will find His mercy as well as meaning for your life (Matt. 7:7).

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good” #1234

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:8–10, NKJV)

David’s life was in danger. King Saul was pursuing him, and when he fled to Gath of the Philistines, he had to pretend to be insane to escape threats on his life (1 Samuel 21:10-15). When we fall into trials we are tempted to accuse God. How is it that these perils did not shake David’s faith in God? Today’s passage shows us how David’s resolve was strengthened in the face of trials. First, he knew God blesses those who trust in Him (v. 8). David believed God’s word and promises. Trust in God overwhelms trials in this world. Second, David feared God (v. 9). Reverence for God, who provides and protects His people, keeps its focus on God in the day of calamity. Third, David continued to seek the Lord. God’s will and pleasure, not his own, ruled David’s life. Do not allow temptations and trials of life to diminish your faith. Like David, trust God, fear God and seek God. The Lord is good. He will bless and sustain His holy ones, for they rely on Him and see His goodness.

“Early will I seek You” #1165

1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (Psalm 63:1–2, NKJV)

God is not a fire escape when trouble comes into our lives. God is the One who fills up our longings and satisfies all our needs. God is not a place mat on the table of our lives – useful, but often forgotten until needed. God is the Supplier of everything that sustains us, body and soul. He is the One we seek and trust. Like David, let us seek God early and always. Our soul must long for God like the thirsty man in a hot, waterless desert. Worship is our refuge and relief. In worship, we adore His great power and honor His glorious name. In worship, we bow before the One in whom we rely for life, for mercy, and for salvation. How big is your God? Truly, He fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:24). The pertinent question is, are you seeking God by trusting His word and obeying Him, so that He fills your life? “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23).

A Purposeful God #1009

27  so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28  for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:27–28, NKJV)

The God who was unknown to the Athenian philosophers, and to many still, is a purposeful God. He rules this world, not to oppress, but to bless, so that we will seek Him and find Him. We have been created for this very purpose. Solomon said our duty, and a fulfilled life is summed up in this: to fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13). God is not inaccessible to us; He is as near as the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. Proof of His presence is everywhere in this world. Indeed, He is as near as His inspired word, which records His will for us (2 Tim. 3:16-17). His Scriptures teach us how to seek Him and find Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:28-30). Truly, “He has put eternity” in our hearts (Eccl. 3:11). The desire to know God compels us to find Him where He may be found; but not in the images of art that depict mythical gods. This is self-evident, since “we are also His offspring.”

Ask, Seek and Knock #984

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7–8, NKJV)

The Son of God had just assured those who “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” that “all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). Our heavenly Father knows our needs and supplies them according to His will. And so, we must live by faith in Him and not be distracted by the material riches of this world (Matt. 6:25-34). When we ask, seek and knock at the door of our Father’s favor, we know He gives us what is good for us. The trouble comes when we ask, seek and knock according to our own will instead of the will of God. We will not be answered by the Father when we come to Him with selfish, faithless requests and expectations. Genuine faith drives us to ask, seek and knock in harmony with God’s will. With this submissive trust in God, we are sure our Father hears us and answers us in ways that are always good for us (Matt. 7:11).

Seek Things Above #840

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1, NKJV)

The sinner is brought to the blood of Christ when he or she is baptized “into His death” (Rom. 6:3). Then, the sinner is raised from the death of sin by the power of God to “walk in newness of life” (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4). In baptism, the sinner is united with Christ in the likeness of His death and raised from spiritual death in the likeness of His resurrection (Rom. 6:5). Therefore, Paul tells us in today’s verse to desire and reach after heavenly things. Christ is in heaven; where else should we seek to be, but in fellowship with Him? Christ is reigning at the right hand of God; where else should we seek to be, but living under His ruling authority? God has raised us from spiritual death and “made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). We have “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Your spiritual resurrection gives your life a new direction. Make upward living your daily passion.

See that the Lord is Good #588

8  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9  Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10  The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:8–10, NKJV)

Do you ever feel like you are missing out on something because you are a Christian? The temptation to envy the unrighteous attracts some Christians to their spiritual demise. To resist this temptation, focus on the good blessings you have from the Lord by doing three things mentioned in today’s passage. Strengthen your faith by first trusting in the Lord (v. 8). God has shown Himself to be completely trustworthy. He never deceives or makes false promises; He always keeps His word. He is blessing you in ways you do not even see at this time. Solidify your faith by fearing the Lord (v. 9). We show reverence to God because He provides our daily bread and so much more; our eternal life in Christ. Secure your faith by seeking the Lord (v. 10). God rewards those who believe in Him and “diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Seek the good things of God though faith. You will find blessings more abundant that all the earth’s treasures – heavenly treasures that never fade (Matt. 6:19-21).