It's Just That Simple

What does this verse truly mean? Well, let’s read the verses that follow: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:8-11

Just before Matthew 7:7 Jesus is pretty much giving various pieces of advice. Judge and be not judged, don’t look for sin in others without first looking at your own sin (and ridding yourself of it), do not cast your pearls before swine. Then later in Matthew 7:12, He continues with advice – whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.

So, I am left to believe that Jesus meant this as a simple statement of advice (a recommendation offered as a guide to action).

He didn’t mean for me to read anything into it, dissect it, attempt to figure out what He considers good. Maybe His definition of good is different from mine? I don’t think so.

As I study the scriptures, I find that God’s “good” pretty much matches my opinion of good. We have the Ten Commandments as well as the following verses in Genesis.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth... Then God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. Genesis 1:27-30

Yes, corruption has entered our world, and it is vastly different than the one our Heavenly Father (The Creator) made for us, but I believe His thoughts on “good” remain the same.

Now, with that said, I believe He expects us to continue to knock, ask and seek for those things we desire as we consider our present corruption. Things are constantly happening in this broken world. Satan is on the prowl, and he fights dirty.

I wholeheartedly believe that God loves each and every one of us passionately.

He wants to see a smile on our face. He wants to see us succeeding in His work. He wants us to talk to Him, spend time with Him, and find out why He sent us here and what He wants us to accomplish.

Sometimes he will only give us a day’s worth at a time, and then sometimes He gives us something bigger than ourselves – with a goal in mind. Yet we must still go to Him daily to strategize our next move. As we do this we learn what we must ask for, what will be required to accomplish our missions. Where we must go to seek and who to ask.

So, find out what He wants you to do, ask for those things you need to accomplish it and trust Him to be faithful. It’s just that simple.

Until Next Time,

Love and Blessings, Laura K.