HE GIVES GOOD GIFTS

What is it that you are asking of the Father? Is it physical or emotional healing, meeting of needs of sustenance, or perhaps for the salvation of a loved one? Perhaps it is for boldness in witnessing or a deeper experience in worship than you've ever known.

At the beginning of this passage, Jesus told us, "(A)sk, 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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10, NKJV) Elsewhere, (Matt. 7:7, 21:21-22; Mark 11:24; John 15:7) He told us to ask what we will and it will be done. Still other places in Scripture hold forth a similar promise (Jer. 33:3; James 1:5-7; I John 3:22; 5:14-15).

Kids ask parents for stuff all the time. If it is good for the child and within the power of the parent to say yes, it feels good to grant a child's request. Becoming a grandparent makes this especially true; you can spoil them because you don't have to live with them.

None of us, however, would trick our kids by giving them something bad or dangerous when they asked for something good. That is the point of the analogy Jesus uses in this passage. If we won't do that to our kids, the Father above won't do that to us.

Jesus gave us two commandments by which to live. 1) Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And, 2) love your neighbor as yourself. As you live the Christ-life, living by those directives and seeking His will in your life, ask Him for your heart's desire. Within that context, He will not give you anything bad. Thank Him for the result and live in confidence that He gives only good and perfect gifts (James 1:17).