A Word from Matthew 7

When you face times of uncertainty, do you feel confident about asking God for what you need? After all, we know that we often don’t deserve the good things we already have—let alone asking for more. And then, too, we often feel like we ought to be able to take care of ourselves—sometimes to the point of being proud of how hard we’ve worked and how we don’t need others to meet our needs.

And yet, in today’s word from Matthew 7, we get reminded of how eager God is to provide for us. “Keep on asking” Jesus says, “and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?” (7:7-11; NLT)

Now, I don’t know about you. But I think it’s reassuring to know that we’ve got a heavenly Father who delights to meet our needs. But then, in the very next verse, I’m reminded of the call that comes with that gift. “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you,” Jesus continues. “This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (7:12; NLT)

You see, just like we can trust God to meet our needs, He calls us to be trustworthy in meeting others’ needs.

And so today, let’s delight in what the Father gives. And like him, let’s be eager givers. Amen.