Matt 7:7 “Ask~~ and it will be given to you; seek~~ and you will find; knock~~ and the door will be opened for you.”
One of the special attractions of the teachings of Jesus was all that He revealed about God. Prior to this verse, He had been teaching the principles of relationships. He taught against being so critical of others that you ignore the major faults in your own character.
Following this passage, He returned to the subject of relationships.
Our text gives the followers of His kingdom examples of how God responds. Here we see one of His characteristics: He is generous and responsive to us. God’s example becomes our model for how to freely respond to those around us: with generosity and love.
The three commands in our verse are present imperatives, meaning they are continuous actions: thus we must “habitually keep on” asking, seeking, and knocking. As we walk with God, learning to obey His commands and becoming more like Him, an amazing transformation occurs.
Paul tells us, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Phil 2:13NLT). As we learn His word and obey His instructions, He works in our will so that we want what He wants, and He empowers us to fulfill His will.
This promise is not a blank check to fill out as we wish; it must be understood in the broader context of New Testament revelations: “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and the things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 Jn 3:22).
Furthermore, self-interest and selfishness are the wrong motives for applying the promise: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
The whole objective of the Christian life is to become like the Father, think like the Father, and desire whatever the Father desires: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 Jn 5:14).
To get on His wavelength, we need to know His word, His commands, and His desires and then make them our own. Then we will want just what He wants: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5).
The greatest request is for the mind (and heart) of Christ. Tell the Lord you would prefer nothing more in this world than to have His attitudes and to fulfill His desires in every relationship.
“Lord Jesus, I am thankful that You are generous, giving Your loved ones the strength and power to be obedient as we ask, seek, and knock in prayer.”