February 25, 2021 – A(sk). S(eek). K(nock). - A Reflection on Matthew 7:7-12 скачать в хорошем качестве

February 25, 2021 – A(sk). S(eek). K(nock). - A Reflection on Matthew 7:7-12

Before we ask, seek and knock at His door, let us first examine our own faith and find encouragement in His promises. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection    • February 25, 2021 – A(sk). S(eek). K(nock)...   Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” Reflection Have you experienced situations in life where you kept asking God for something but He feels distant and silent? You desperately seek answers but none seem forthcoming? You are tired of knocking at countless doors for opportunities, but find them tightly shut? If yes, then today’s gospel might seem very contradictory to life expectations. However, let us pause and ask ourselves a few questions first. Before asking him for anything, have we given him our hearts and surrendered our lives to him? Before searching for our answers, have we sought him earnestly and discovered the gift of his unconditional love and forgiveness? And before we go around knocking at doors, have we listened to his gentle knock at the door of our hearts requesting permission to come in? (See Revelation 3:20) We should never forget that we are the children of an awesome God, the creator and sustainer of the universe and everything in it. He is the beginning and the end, our all-knowing, all-seeing and all-powerful God. One redeeming act of his grace gave us a priceless gift beyond human comprehension through Jesus Christ. (See Ephesians 2:8) If he, in his infinite wisdom, chooses not to grant us the desires of our heart, can we not trust that he has our best interests at heart and knows what is good for us? (See Matthew 7:11) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9) Yes it is painful and sometimes it hurts beyond endurance. There too we have his reassurance that “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) hould we then stop asking and stop praying? Scripture says “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and again “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6). And he promises that “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10) Let us then not get disheartened but learn to Ask him to reveal his will in everything, Seek Him first to discover ourselves and Knock at His door persistently through prayer. God bless you!