Pray to our loving Heavenly Father
NOVEMBER 29, 2007 (THURSDAY) – We are familiar with the word, “ask,” and we use it frequently in daily conversations. As an acrostic, it becomes a handy tool to help us commit to memory the Scripture verse, Matthew 7:7.
A.. Ask
S.. Seek
K.. Knock
Here’s the complete discussion in Matthew 7:7-11:
7″Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9″Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV)
In their haste to make sure the people knew that the laws of God were vital to their survival, the Scribes and Pharisees had overlooked or de-emphasized teachings about God’s love and compassion. The teachings of Jesus filled in the blank spots and presented God as Our Heavenly Father.
The legalism of that day came with a lot of rules and regulations that seemed to make God a heartless slave driver. Jesus cut through the jungle of laws emphasized by the religious leaders of that day, and suggested a way of life that could bring joy. He never advocated breaking the moral law, but he taught us how to do the right thing and be happy about it.
Jesus gave us the sermon on the mount as a call to come up to higher ground with Him, to obey the Lord because we love Him, not because we fear Him. Part of that great sermon is recorded in Matthew 7:7-11. It takes prayer out of the “obligations” list, and puts it into the “privileges” list. He made it sound like the natural, healthy and right thing to do, believing that the Father loves us and wants the best for us.