Tag Archives: the book of Matthew

February 17
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, NLT)

A commentary on these verses in The People’s New Testament says this: “The terms are here used with reference to prayer, and these constitute a climax. Ask implies a simple petition. Seek indicates an earnest search. Knock shows perseverance in spite of hindrances. The three represent earnest prayer.”

Discerning sense from nonsense in the topic of prayer tries the patience of even the most stalwart of Christian disciples. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the topic; and some of these opinions appear contradictory.

In every such instance, return to the simple words of our Christ:  Ask.  Seek.  Knock.

God knows what we want before we ask, but He is delighted by the petitions of His children, in the manner of a shall child who always takes all of her joys, concerns, and hurts to her father’s ear, because, “My daddy can do anything!”  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
February 16
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21, NLT)

Do not allow inaction to invalidate your profession of faith.

Jesus says that it is not just by our confession (who we say we are), but also through our obedience (what we do) that we establish our lives as securely as a house that is built on bedrock. (Please see the verses that follow: Verses 23 and 24.)

Clearly, it is not only our creed (from the Latin word credo, meaning “I believe”) that impress our heavenly Father; it is action that is consistent with our creed of divine discipleship that receives our heavenly Father’s approval.

How different is that from what we see today: Professions of belief without action?

Strive to let your good deeds speak more loudly than your good words.  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
February 13
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)

If we’re not careful, we might think for a moment that God will leave us in the lurch; that is, without resources; without hope; and without help.

In such moments, remember our Lord’s reminder that our heavenly Father wants to give us everything — everything — that we will ever need. The key to having all that we will need, exactly when we will need it, and in a form that we can receive it, is to seek first the rule (read: kingdom) of God in our lives above all else.

As citizens of this world, we understand the rule of others, whether that “other” is civil law, or the unwritten laws of the social order.

As disciples of Jesus, we need to actualize the rule of God in our daily living by being obedient to His law, the first of which is that we should love our Lord God with all our being. . . Or, in the words of today’s scripture: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else. . .”

In the Kingdom of God, there are no paupers.  – Luther

Tagged , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →