"Just Ask"

February 25, 2024 Daily Devotion: "Just Ask"   Matthew 7:7-11 The Passion Translation   “Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door. “Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child, who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead? Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead? If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?” Jesus tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened unto you." So that we don't miss His point, our Lord uses the word “ask” five times in this passage. “Ask,” says the Lord. He doesn't say beg. He merely says, ask. This can only mean that God is not waiting for us to bang down His heavenly door and implore Him, though there is the issue of persistence in prayer. The real issue is this: We have not because we ask not. Asking God is a good place to start! Why would anyone come to David Jeremiah before they would approach the Creator of the universe? God has whole worlds in His back pocket. The Bible says we don't have because we don't ask. So if we don't have it, and we need it, maybe we ought to try asking for it. Jesus didn't tell us five times to “ask" in this passage because He had nothing better to say. He wants us to ask. The question is, will we? Notice what happens if you ask, seek, and knock-and put them underneath each other: Ask, Seek, Knock Even the three words themselves cry out to us to ask. Ask! Seek! Knock! What does Jesus want us to do when it comes time to pray? Just ask.