Matthew 7:7,8
“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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
This is amazing. If anyone seeks God he will find Him. I believe there are 10 billion people in the world. Yet if one asks in the quietness of his heart he will be heard. God is not too busy, He won’t overlook any prayer.
His purpose is to have a relationship with us all. Some prayers are too selfish or maybe He knows we would be harmed by its answer. God knows. Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself”, (John 12:32). He will answer prayers that draw people to Him. He isn’t a Santa Claus that gives gifts based on how good they are.
If one seeks God He will be found by that one. Now there are some that don’t have access to the bible. Romans 2:14,15 says, “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” God puts His Word on their hearts. They will be justly treated based on that.
If we knock, He will open doors. This is how He treats His children by offering guidance. He has His will for us. By His mercy He opens or closes them. He knows what’s best. He also uses His timing. A door may be opened but maybe not now. He will do it in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The three verbs are ask, seek and knock. All of these are pointing towards God. These are slightly different from one another. Asking is putting our desires or thoughts into requests. Seeking is our direction. We aren’t sitting or standing, but we are in motion. If we are always sitting then a component is missing. Faith is an action word. It needs to be part of our actions. As we are living our lives faith needs to be a part of it. God asks that we love Him and others. Those are actions based on His commands. All our pursuits need to be under His lordship. It could be a life goal we are pursuing, some things are hobbies or interests. That’s all good. He will challenge us to prioritize them so they don’t turn into idols.
The last verb is to knock. In part of our seeking we will encounter closed doors. We’ve addressed this. Sometimes He opens the doors, sometimes He keeps them closed. He may open them, just not now.
Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers. Walking with You is such a blessing. Thank You that You are drawing all men to yourself. Thank You for using us in the process.