As we read and study the 49 scriptures that are Jesus’s commandments, let’s ask God to help us observe these words, apply them, and faithfully follow them throughout our lifetimes. The command we will focus on today is “Ask, Seek, Knock.”
Verse of the Day
“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” (Matthew 7:7–8, KJV).
“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.”
Matthew 7:7–8, ERV
Lesson of the Day
Jesus commands us to ask, seek, and knock. As I searched through devotions and other literature, trying to make sure that I completely understood these scriptures, my spirit just wouldn’t settle on what I was finding. Most of them were starting out with stories about a child asking for things from their father. I understood the scenarios that they were describing, and I understood why, but I just couldn’t understand how “knock” fit into those scenarios.
That’s because there are different interpretations of scriptures depending on the person and what the Spirit has to say. This interpretation comes from what the Spirit showed me.
In Matthew 7:7–8, Jesus is instructing us on kingdom things. He is saying to ask Him, seek the answer, and keep knocking until He answers. What He’s not saying is that everything we want or need will be given exactly as we request it. He’s not a genie in a bottle.
Remember when Jesus was a young boy and His parents were looking for Him for days and finally found Him in the temple? What did He say to His parents? He said, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, KJV).
Jesus is ALL about God’s business. He wouldn’t tell us to ask for whatever we want because we are humans living in a fallen world. We would most likely ask for things that have nothing to do with God’s business. Even if we made our whole lives about God’s business, we still might ask for something outside of the kingdom. It’s only natural for humans to desire some pleasures from this world. Preachers want new suits, new cars, bigger churches, etc., and that’s just preachers. What does the average person want?
So, ask God for anything in His will, and it will be given. Ask God for understanding and wisdom. Ask Him for guidance and insight. It will be given. Now, seeking comes afterwards. After we ask, we start looking for the answer. Look for the answer, believing that we will receive it. Knock; be persistent. We must keep knocking, trusting God’s answer and timing.
All three commands are expressed in Greek forms that convey ongoing action: ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, and knock and keep knocking.
If we follow Jesus’s command, then we get the promise attached to it. We will receive. Jesus never said when we will receive it. He just says that we will, as long as we keep asking, seeking, and knocking.
Encouragement
As I studied this passage, I felt the Holy Spirit drawing my attention to seeking God’s wisdom and understanding. We can bring our needs and desires to our Father, but this command does not promise that every request will be granted exactly as we ask. We keep asking, seeking, and knocking in faith, submitting our requests to His will and trusting His answer and timing.
In my own life, I have also experienced our Father’s generosity in an unexpected way. I remember one time I asked God how I was going to be able to remodel my kitchen now that I was retired and didn’t have enough income. I didn’t ask Him to make it happen, but my house got flooded, and I got brand-new floors and a brand-new kitchen. That was all God. He gave me a great gift because He is my Father and He knew that I wanted it. Would I have gotten it if I asked? I don’t know. I am not promising that everyone will receive whatever they ask for. Just know that God does answer prayers. However, He never says when He will answer them.
Also, don’t worry about the “when.” We must trust God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it’s impossible to please God, and James 1:6–7 says the one who asks while doubting shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. So, if we’re going to ask, we need to ask in faith. He is the Creator of all, and He knows all. He’s omnipresent and omnipotent.
This command is more like a gift. This is one of my favorites because God is giving us insight into all things kingdom. Tonight, I asked, sought, and knocked, and the Holy Spirit gave me the answer that I needed. I wouldn’t have been able to consciously write this devotion. I’m so grateful to God because these devotions mean a lot to me. I don’t want to say or write anything that goes against God or that would steer someone the wrong way. If anything I write seems wrong, I am always available to have the discussion. If I’m wrong in any way, I will write a rebuttal. However, your claims must be biblical, and my spirit must agree.
I want to share someone else’s testimony today. My brother wasn’t a strong reader. After going away for a while, he started spending a lot of solitary time with God, praying and asking God for wisdom and understanding. I must reiterate that he was a poor reader at the time. Well, I don’t know how long it took for God to answer him and give him what he asked for, but I do know that he started writing letters to us. These weren’t ordinary letters. They were sermons. There were no spelling errors, and the sermons were solid. You had to know him before this happened in order to really feel and witness God’s power. This man had a full understanding of the whole Bible. When we spoke with him, we could tell the anointing of God was upon him. I was so impressed. I started praying, “God, if You can teach my brother, who could barely read, how to read and understand the Bible with wisdom, then You can teach me.” Did He teach me? He’s still doing it.
See, God is not a man that He should lie. He freely gives, and He honors His promises. He promised to give it if we ask, seek, and knock. So, let’s do just that.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You more than amaze me daily. What is man that You should care for us? You give us access to You, and You teach us Your ways. Your ways are perfect. You commanded us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. Thank You for all that You’ve done, all that You do, and all that You will do. We owe You our lives. Give us wisdom to know how to live this Christian life. Teach us how to teach others. Give us all that we need. Protect us and our loved ones from evil. Forgive us when we miss the mark, and place us back on the right narrow path. May our desires align with Your will. In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray, amen.