Thought for August 16

 History:

• 1863: Chickamauga campaign begins
• 1896: Gold discovered in the Klondike
• 1898: Roller Coaster patented
• 1954: Sports Illustrated first published
• 1962: Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as Beatles' drummer
• 2008: Usain Bolt sets new 100m record to win Olympic Gold--9.69 seconds
• 2021: First official water shortage declared at Lake Mead
• Born: Amos Alonzo Stagg, T.E. Lawrence [of Arabia], Robert Ringling [circus], Menachem Begin, Fess Parker, Frank Gifford, Robert Culp, Tony Trabert, Forest Mars [candy], Lorraine Gary [Jaws], Kathie Lee Gifford, James Cameron, Angela Bassett, Madonna, Timothy Hutton. Steve Carell, Will Zalatoris
• Died: Duncan Phyfe [furniture maker], John Pemberton [invented Coca-Cola], Robert Bunsen [Bunsen burner], Henri Desgrange [founded Tour de France], Babe Ruth, Margaret Mitchell, Bela Lugosi, Elvis Presley, Amanda Blake [Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke], John Cameron Swayze, Idi Amin, Aretha Franklin, Peter Fonda, 

Thought:

Yesterday, we looked at the command "do not judge". Today, I am looking at Matthew 7:7-12 as Jesus adds to His teaching on prayer from 6:5-15. But before thinking about that, look at 7:12 and consider how it relates to yesterday's passage on not judging. Here, Jesus gives the golden rule--however you want to be treated, treat others that way. We usually think of the Golden Rule as do unto others as you would have others do unto you. I may understand the teaching in Matthew 7 better. How do I want to be treated by others--love, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, mercy, grace, acceptance, encouragement, prayerfully. Then, I should treat others that way. But what if they do not reciprocate? Not my problem. Why? Because I am doing it to be like Jesus--for how has He treated me. 

Now to the prayer passage, 7:7-11. What can I learn from these verses?

• Prayer is active. It requires asking, seeking and knocking. It requires persistence. Jesus told the parable of the neighbor who had a guest and needed bread [Luke 11:5-13]. So the neighbor went next door at night and knocked on the door until the person came and loaned the bread. Jesus said that the man gave the bread because of the persistence of the knocking. He places this parable between the Model Prayer and Luke's account of the teaching in Matthew 7.
• Prayers are answered. Jesus says that if we ask, we receive, if we seek, we find, if we knock, the door is opened. Now, I do not think this is name it and claim it. It took me a long time to understand:
• If I ask Jesus, we receive. Not necessarily what I asked for, but what I need. I may be praying to be removed from the fire, but Jesus answers by walking through the fire with me. I make be asking for a physical healing, but He answers with His perfect peace. And when I understand this, I am so grateful that the one who knows me answers me with exactly what I need, not what my human mind thought I wanted or needed. 
• If I seek, I will find. Jesus says if we seek with all our heart we will find. The question for me is what is it that I am really seeking--joy, peace, comfort [not ease], His presence, His strength, His glory. How many times have you been seeking, turned in your Bible and there was a passage you did not recall, were not looking for--and reading it you find the assurance, the wisdom, the comfort you need. 
• If I knock, He opens the door. Why knock? Because I want to enter into His presence, abide with Him. And if I knock, He says come child, come in---come to the light, find a resting place. 
• God always gives what is good [7:11]. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. God always gives what is good. Go back to Luke 11 and notice verse 13. Luke says that the good gift that the Father gives His children is the Holy Spirit. Think about that--God gives what is good for us and that gift is the Holy Spirit. Now think about all that the Holy Spirit does--the gifts of the Spirit in Galatians 5 [love, joy, peace, etc.], help in our prayers, conviction of sin, guides and directs, teaches and illuminates the word, reveals the scripture and the Word, gives power for spiritual warfare. 

What are you asking, seeking today? God answers with what is good.

Blessings

Larry