Asides

“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

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“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 our confession (who we say we are), but also 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”) alone that impress our heavenly Father; it is also action that is plainly consistent with our creed.. 

How different is that from what we see today: Professions of belief without actions that validate the words?  Strive to let your deeds speak as loudly as your words. – Luther

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“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.” (Psalm 33:20-22, NLT)

We esteem the privilege of having a wide variety of options from which to choose.

The psalmist in today’s scripture declares his allegiance to only one Lord; only one God; only one Savior.  We would do well to narrow our “essential list” as the psalmist did, and make our Lord the sole subject of our focus. Who else has been our help and our shield? Who else loves us with an unyielding love?  Who else is worthy of our unconditional, unalloyed, and unyielding allegiance? 

One, solitary, choice — if it is the correct choice — is all we shall ever need.  – Luther

Note: Have a great day in worship on Sunday. Daily encouragement will return, Lord willing, on Monday!

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