As we continue exploring our New Covenant relationship with God our Father, we come to Matthew chapter 7. “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Mt 7:7-11).
Over and over again, I am drawn to the word “Father” when I read these New Testament passages. I think we often just gloss over this title for God, maybe because have heard or read it so often. But stop and think about it for a minute. If you have embraced the gospel message of Jesus Christ, God is your Father! The Sovereign of the Universe; the Almighty; the Omniscient and Omnipotent; God Himself is your Father! It truly is incredible.
And one of the hallmarks of this fatherly care is that God is the giver of good gifts. My hope for you is that you had a father who gave you good gifts, though sadly, I recognize that we do not all share this experience. The “how much more” in verse 11 teaches us that God’s gifts are far superior to even the good gifts of our earthly fathers.
To receive these gifts, our role is to ask, seek, and knock. There is a role for us to play in this transaction. God’s promise, God’s side of the equation is to give, to be found, and to open the door. And the foundation on which that promise stands is His identity as our Father. We can trust God to come through on our behalf based on one simple fact. God is our Father and He is a good Father.
Do you need God’s intervention in your life? Ask. Do you desire a closer walk with Jesus? Seek. Do you need a door blown open? Knock. Do you lack resources of some kind? Ask. Do you need direction for a pending decision? Seek. Do you sense the next step God has for you and your family, but are unsure how to proceed? Knock.
God is waiting. This passage starts with ask, seek, and knock, and ends with the assurance that our good Father will bring it about. The ask, seek, and knock and good things will happen is not just thrown out as a maybe or a wish for or a hope so. The promise is based on the character of the heavenly Father who is behind the promise. And the Father-child relationship you share is the guarantee that “in asking, you will receive; in seeking, you will find; and in knocking, the door will be opened.”