The Father's Heart

TNIV Scripture for Thursday, July 24, 2008 [Matthew 7:7-11]

'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened. 'Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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!

Jesus covered a lot of diverse information in Matthew 5-7. Much of what He said described what the life of a believer should look like (i.e. the beatitudes, be a light, be salt, obey the law and more, love your enemies, etc.) . However, right in the middle of God's standard for His children is this verse that described what God wants to do for His children. God's heart is all about giving to you and not just what you need, God wants to bless you beyond imagination with the best gifts. I believe those 'gifts' in Matthew 7: 11 are related to the life He wants you to lead and that this verse is tucked into this section of Scripture to provide a handle for you to grab onto when you see how high God's standard is and that it is impossible for you to live that way. He wants you to see your need for Him to give you wisdom and ability to live His way. And so He waits and waits for you to recognize how desperately you need Him every day and to ask, knock, find and receive His strength for your weaknesses. Praise God for His heart of love and giving and for being a God of high and holy standards. Praise God that as you run to Him in your inability, He will give you the best gifts of His ability.


Beth Warlick, 7/24/2008