Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 28, 2023
Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door is opened. 9 Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? 10 Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? 11 If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
Good Morning, The joy of the Lord is my strength.
As God’s children, we are heirs of God and are offered all that God has to give us, but nothing is thrust upon us. God patiently waits for us to come.
Imagine walking up to a food vendor truck and just standing there. As you stand there quietly, others will come, ask for their choices, and receive the things for which they asked. You will watch the procession for hours until the truck closes and moves down the road to its next event. You had the opportunity to order a meal but did not speak, so you received no food.
Next, think of a time when something was lost or misplaced. It is highly unlikely that you will find the missing item If you simply sit and wait for the item to reappear. Sometimes we might accidentally find a missing item when we are searching for something else, but finding requires the act of searching.
Finally, what do you do when you arrive at a closed door? If you have the key, you open it and go in. If you do not have the key, you knock and wait for someone to come and open it. How long would it take if you approached a closed door and waited for someone to open it? You might get lucky and someone comes along quickly, but you might wait for a very long time, or perhaps it never is opened. All the while, there is something wonderful happening on the other side of the door, and you’re standing outside waiting.
Following Christ requires action on our part! We have the choice that Moses shared with the Israelites who were waiting to cross into the promised land: choose life and blessings or death and curses.
7 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Loving God, We thank you! You are waiting to spend time with us! Nudge us when we are sitting and waiting so that we find you now. Thank you! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: The Holy Spirit connects me to God and fills me with peace
Ask, Seek, Knock! Pastor Liz
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