Devotional: Matthew 7:8(NLT)

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

I just wanted to open this up by saying God is not a genie. He is not with us to grant our every wish and command. Let’s not get Big G.O.D confused with Shaquille O’Neal in Shazam or Ray J - One Wish. Jesus was talking during this moment and he was NOT teaching:

• Ask for anything = Instant delivery

• Say it once = It appears

• Amazon Prime = Material things on demand

  
  

That kind of thinking ignores the nature of God as, our Father (not servant), Wise (not reactive), Loving (not indulgent). So, to clarify things, the promise is not, “You’ll get everything you want.” It’s, “You’ll receive what is good, right, and aligned with God.” Let's go a little deeper and break this down:

• Ask --->Speaking (prayer) --->"God, I need you."

  *Asking for God, His spirit, His will

• Seek --->Pursuing (intentional effort) --->"I'm going after you."

  *His truth, presence, righteousness

• Knock --->Persistence (refusing to stop) --->"I'm not leaving until I encounter you."

*Deeper access, intimacy, relationship

God's presence is already available but knocking positions our hearts to enter into it. Because a relationship with God isn't forced, it's entered into. When we knock it shows humility, hunger, and persistence. It's giving, "God I don't just want to know You, I want in." God is not hiding, but there are doors to deeper levels of, intimacy, revelation, and spiritual maturity. Those doors open to those who are persistent. This walk with Christ is a journey, it's ongoing, not just a one and done type of situation. This verse implies we need to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. When we do these things God hears us, He reveals Himself to us, and He opens deeper access to us. Not instantly, not always how we expect, but faithfully and intentionally.