"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and those who seek find, and to those who knock it will be opened." (Luke 11.9)
More often than not, this teaching from Jesus is used almost as a rubber stamp of approval.
As if God's Son gave an automatic "yes" to anything our heart desires.
And probably just as often, when what we ask, seek and knock for doesn't happen, we're disappointed. Believing that God has somehow let us down and that His Son really didn't mean what He said.
Rather than continuing towards the intersection of dashed hopes and disillusionment, maybe we can slow down and take a second look at what Jesus was saying.
According to Luke, God's Son spoke these words soon after instructing His followers on how to pray. (The famous "Our Father" prayer, which begins with hallowing, or revering God).
That same prayer goes on to ask God for God's will to be done on earth, exactly as it is being done in Heaven. Followed by a rather modest petition for our daily bread. (The NKJ version puts it, "Give us day by day our daily bread," or provision.) Then the prayer winds down by asking forgiveness for our sins, just as - or because we have - forgiven others. Finishing up with a plea not to be led into temptation and to be delivered from evil. (Luke 11.2-4).
The Our Father doesn't seem to contain an all-inclusive invitation for God to grant all our requests.
Interestingly enough, in this same scripture passage, Jesus goes on to tell a story about a pesky friend who approaches a neighbor at midnight asking for three loaves of bread, because the friend doesn't have any food to give to a guest.
The neighbor is initially annoyed. But Jesus makes the point that, "though he (the neighbor) will not rise and give to him because he is a friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many (loaves of bread) as he needs." (Luke 11.8).
The Nelson Study Bible notes that the word persistence in this scripture "refers to shameless boldness more than tenacity."
So, we're supposed to be bold. But what exactly should we be bold about - that is, what should we be asking for?
A hint is contained in our initial scripture reference. Jesus continues with the "ask, seek, knock," teaching by describing a good parent. He poses a question: "Which of you parents would give a stone to a child asking for bread? Or a snake when your child asks for a fish? Or a scorpion if your child asks for an egg?"
Now here comes the clincher: Jesus wraps up this teaching by saying: "...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?" (Luke 11.13).
The astonishing final "ask" turns out to be the most outrageously marvelous Spirit of God (AKA the Holy Spirit).
If you connect the dots, it turns out Jesus is making the point that we should be asking for and seeking God's very Spirit. With boldness.
This puts a whole different context on what we should be asking for, doesn't it?
At the end of the day, there's really nothing else as reliable that will help us through life's challenges. There are a ton of teachings on the benefits of the Holy Spirit and what the Holy Spirit does. Suffice to say, for starters, that the Spirit of God is the same Spirit that reportedly rose God's Son from the dead. It's the same Spirit that Jesus promised to every one of His followers. It's the same Spirit that Jesus was describing to Nicodemus when he asked Jesus, "How can a person be born again?" (John 3.5)
Sounds pretty powerful, doesn't it?
This isn't a guarantee that we won't have to face difficult situations in life. (In fact Jesus' followers cautioned that we will. Most of the original 12 apostles were martyred). Sometimes these challenges will border on the indescribably awful.
There really isn't a Biblical basis for the 'prosperity' gospel, if prosperity means material goods. No one, follower of Jesus' Son or not, is guaranteed economic wealth, especially when it's tied to spiritual belief.
Jesus didn't sugar coat what relationship with Him would be like. But God's Son did say that through His Spirit, God would protect us and never leave us, no matter what. Whether we felt God's presence or not. Whether we understood what was happening or not. Whether we felt like continuing in fellowship with God or not.
And that is worth seeking.
Photo Credit: www.theholyspiritcenter.org
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