As Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount he tells us “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matt 7:7-8 KJV)
Let’s break these verses down a bit; we are told in verse 7 that we are to “Ask” “Seek” and “Knock”. Multiple lessons could be derived from each of these words, but I am going to approach things from a little different angle.
Adam Clarke says in his commentary that Prayer is always heard after one manner or other. No soul can pray in vain that prays as directed.
While I value Mr. Clarke comments, I have to disagree with them to a point. I can not agree that “No soul can pray in vain” John tells us in chapter 9 verse 31 that God does not listen to sinners. So if a person who has never accepted Christ in to their life as Lord and Savior prays for something other than salvation the prayer is not heard.
While prayer is heard by our Lord, if that prayer is from someone other than a child of God and it is for something other than salvation it is in vain. The one prayer that we all know that in NOT in vain is the sinner’s prayer of salvation!
Once we “Ask” Christ to be our Lord and Savior we need to “Seek” His will in our lives as it says in Luke 12:31; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We are to put the Master first and follow His direction. I know that this is NOT the easiest thing to do; as a matter of fact it is probably the hardest thing to do! As John Wesley said, “Before ye give place to any other thought or care, let it be your concern that the god and Father of our Lord Jesus may reign in your heart”
We need to “Knock” with earnestness and perseverance. When you knock on Mercy’s Gate you need to be earnest in you request for forgiveness. In turn, while we are seeking God’s will and Christ knocks at your heart with an assignment for you. You need to hear the knock and open your heart to follow God’s will and accept the assignment and then follow His will.
In Summary, you need to honestly Ask Christ in to your life so that you can Seek his will and answer when He knocks at your heart. Then you need to respond to Christ as He responded to you when you Knocked at Mercy’s Gate.
In Christ
Roy
