LUKE 11:9-13
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007
IT’S ALL UP TO YOU!
9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he
give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a
serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer
him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" St. Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV)
It is interesting that we are often afraid to ask. Many a man has been
the subject of jokes because he will not ask for directions when he is
driving. As a result, he gets on the wrong road and is late arriving at
his destination. Many a student has received a poor grade or did not
complete homework. When the student is asked "Why," the student often
says, "I did not understand." The parents respond by asking, "Why didn’t
you ask the teacher for help?" The teacher responds, "Don’t you remember
that I told the class to come to me and ask for help if you need it."
The situation in which most of us have found ourselves is when we try to
fix something or put something together. We try and try but do not have
success. Then we remember that old phrase, "When all else fails read the
instructions." We have this same frustration when we try to resolve the
problems of our lives, our families, our community, our nation, and our
world. If only we would "read the instructions."
If we are trying to assemble something that we have purchased, we can
save time by ASKING the one who designed the package and wrote the
instructions. To do this we cannot just let the booklet lie there, we
have to SEEK, that is open the pages so that our eyes can see the words
and diagrams on each page, Sometimes those instructions are written in
such a way that it is difficult to find exactly the answer that is
needed. If we want to complete the project, we KNOCK, that is look at
each paragraph until it is like a door that opens and the answer is
there. We now know what to do.
The illustration is simple, but I hope it helps us to remember in our
Spiritual Life -
To ASK - Read the instructions, they are in the Bible.
To SEEK - Don’t give up if you don’t find the answer right away.
Remember that God designed the World and God has written the
instructions.
To KNOCK - Instead of using your fist to knock, try knocking with prayer
and as you seek, the right door will be opened for you.
Yes, we are sinful, but as God’s children we know how to give Love. We
know how to respond when others come, ASKING, SEEKING and KNOCKING. Can
we even begin to imagine how much more God, who is all LOVE, will give
to us through His Holy Spirit when we ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK? Try it.
God’s Love for you is there. He will never force His Love on you. ASK.
SEEK. KNOCK, IT’S ALL UP TO YOU!!
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, sometimes I get so busy trying to do something
by myself that I neglect all of the help that you have for me. Send your
Holy Spirit to nudge me to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK. AMEN.
A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION
As you study the Bible, keep a notebook of Bible Passages that you read
that would be of help in a certain situation. This will be of help to
you and could be of help to those who turn to you.