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Re: Ask and it will be given
Posted by caf - September 02, 2002 at 10:27:23pm
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Re: Ask and it will be given
Posted by Mike Babb - September 01, 2002 at 9:21:04pm:

A brief Bible story that I like a lot is found in Ezra:

Ezra 8:21-23
21There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." 23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (NIV)

No apparent miracles, no great show of power, just a prayer for a safe journey (under unusual circumstances, carrying a lot of wealth), and the accomplishment of a safe journey. They asked, and they received. Of course this is Old Testament, and we live under the New Covenant of Christ (or we can, anyway). But it is right to pray for safe travels, and to thank God for safe journeys accomplished. And it is right to ask God for daily needs, and to thank Him for supplying them.

In the passage in question, Matthew 7:7, we should let Jesus tell us what "it" is, since he did. Read on to verse 11,
Matt 7:11 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! (NIV)

"It" is, in this context, good gifts.

When Luke tells of a similar lesson the focus is on the greatest of good gifts, and he quotes Jesus this way:
Luke 11:13 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (NIV)

God is not a genie in a bottle to answer every whim or demand of an immature or misguided believer, faith isn't sorcery obligating God to do what He would not do (such as endlessly perpetuating mortal life), but He is the source of all that is good, and fortunately knows beyond doubt what really is good.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)

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: A brief Bible story that I like a lot is found in Ezra:

: Ezra 8:21-23
: 21There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." 23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (NIV)

: No apparent miracles, no great show of power, just a prayer for a safe journey (under unusual circumstances, carrying a lot of wealth), and the accomplishment of a safe journey. They asked, and they received. Of course this is Old Testament, and we live under the New Covenant of Christ (or we can, anyway). But it is right to pray for safe travels, and to thank God for safe journeys accomplished. And it is right to ask God for daily needs, and to thank Him for supplying them.

: In the passage in question, Matthew 7:7, we should let Jesus tell us what "it" is, since he did. Read on to verse 11,
: Matt 7:11 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! (NIV)

: "It" is, in this context, good gifts.

: When Luke tells of a similar lesson the focus is on the greatest of good gifts, and he quotes Jesus this way:
: Luke 11:13 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (NIV)

: God is not a genie in a bottle to answer every whim or demand of an immature or misguided believer, faith isn't sorcery obligating God to do what He would not do (such as endlessly perpetuating mortal life), but He is the source of all that is good, and fortunately knows beyond doubt what really is good.

: James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)

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