Saturday June 6, 2020

Matthew 7: 7-11

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

I had an epiphany of sorts several years ago. It came when I spent some time thinking about my children and grandchildren. I realized how much I loved them and that no matter what they did or didn’t do, how successful they were or weren’t, the ups and downs that all we have, that none of that had ever or could impact my love for them.

I am their father and they are my children. And that’s a fact, that’s the truth. I also was thinking how proud I am each one of them. They are special to me. There is nothing they can do to change that.

I am a very average Father. God is a perfect father. If I loved my kids, was proud of them, would give them whatever I could to help them within my ability, what kind of Father is God?

A lot better father than me, a thousand times better, a cross and resurrection better, eternally better, all wise, all loving, all powerful better.

My relationship with God grew exponentially with that epiphany, and I felt God say to me,

Mike I am proud of you.

I knew it wasn’t because of any perceived success, or bad things I had avoided. It was just because I am His son, was, is, and will be. This is the reason God had given me bread when I deserved a stone, and a fish when I deserved a scorpion, forgiveness when I deserved judgment, purpose when I was aimless, and hope when I was hopeless, salvation when I was lost.

Its not because of our faith that God answers our prayers, walks with us, works in our lives, and is faithful (even when we are faithless), it is because we are His sons and daughters. Now that is faith. Embracing, understanding, knowing who we really are in relationship with who God is, “Our Father who art in heaven”.

When my children knock on the door, it opens for them, (most have a key anyway)

When they ask, they receive (I love paying for meals for our kids and picking up mama pizza for the grandkids)

When they seek, I am easy to find, (I talked to a 2-year-old on the phone today, now that’s an experience)

When we knock, it our Father who opens the door,
When we ask, it is our Father who gives us the answer,
When we seek, it is our Father that we find.

Father, as I walk through this day, thank you for your faithfulness to love me, be with me, guide me, and provide for me. I have many things I am thankful for, but I am most thankful that you are my heavenly father, that I am your child, that I belong to you. Today I knock, I ask, I seek, I prepare my heart for the door you will open, the answers you will give, the peace and presence of your love and grace I will find. In Jesus name. Amen.