Thoughts for the Day

‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When you knock on a door you really hope for an answer, otherwise why would you do it in the first place? Well I certainly remember something to the contrary. At ten years old I was living in a small army estate in Lier in Belgium. It was a fairly idylic life. I remember games that including laying chalk trails all over the estate, skating along the low walls that were topped with slates (including the higher walls that held the gates, and where one of us fell off and broke a tooth), and in the early evening when bored knocking on doors and running away! Amazingly we never got caught.

Jesus says we should Ask, Search and Knock. For me, though, perhaps it should be Search, Knock, and Ask though! As Christians we have probably done the search bit, since we've already found Jesus, but have we knocked and asked? As a ten year old, I remember asking my parents for a piano, and they answered by giving me a toy one. It was a really good one and was my pride and joy until I came down the stairs on my roller skates and fell! I realised that there was no way we could have a real piano since we lived in married quarters and would be posted somewhere else soon, and I was content with the substitute.

So, we need to ask God for what we need (not want), and know that he will answer as He sees best for us. Try asking!

Heavenly Father,
Your Son, our Lord Jesus,
taught us to search for You,
to knock on Your door,
and to ask for Your help.
May we continually do this
for others and for ourselves,
knowing that when we ask
in the name of Jesus,
You will respond.
Amen.