(By Diego Cuartas)
I am so thankful for how simply Jesus offers us a reason to pray. There are 3 action words (verbs) that describe one and the same thing: ask, seek and knock. In these three words we find the simple revelation of what we can do when we experience desires or deep needs. Prayer, according to Jesus, is where we need to begin as we experience personal need or that deep, ongoing desire we call lust.
Before we consider Jesus' teaching found on Matthew 7:7-11, let's make sure we are on the same page with regard to the word I am using here--lust. Lust does not refer only to sexual desires we may have. Lust is a strong desire for something. So lust can take us on any given day to desiring more food, a better car, the phone upgrade, a relationship, admiration, power, sexual fulfillment or a certain position. The list goes on as long as any desire we can list. Elsewhere in the Bible (James 4:2-4) we learn that often times we don't have what we want because we don't ask or because we ask for the wrong motives.
In Matthew 7:7-11, I find two key realities we can consider to address our lust and even our personal needs (two different realities here). Consider what Jesus says:
“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. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
The first reality is that Jesus promises to those who actively ask, seek and knock that they will receive something in return. It is as if Jesus is letting us in into his heart and revealing the fact that he wants us to ask, seek and knock.
The second reality is that Jesus points us to the character of our heavenly Father. By comparing our heavenly Father with our earthly fathers, Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father is good and knows how to "give good gifts" to His children--especially to those who ask! This reality in and of itself can offer us comfort. Our asking is met by someone who has our best interest in mind.
One of the benefits of bringing our needs and lusts to our heavenly Father is that we will be more prone to align our heart's direction with His will for us. Asking, seeking and knocking will also prevent us from rallying our own resources or strategies to supply for our own needs and lusts at whatever cost.
What a loving act on Jesus' part to give us exactly what we need to address our needs and lusts: three active imperatives in the present time that are applicable at any moment of our lives--ask, seek and knock!
Interesting that Jesus also gives us in our English language an acrostic to easily remember what is best for us to do regarding our needs and lusts: A.S.K. (ask, seek and knock!).
What are your personal needs or lusts today? First A.S.K.
