Ask and you shall receive…
Do to others as you would have them do to yourself
Matthew 7:1-12
“Ask and you shall receive..”
This verse, ‘ask and you shall receive’ used to make me think as a child, ‘what toy or trinket do I really want?’
As I’ve grown older, I have begun to realise that no number of toys, or trinkets, or cars or homes, can bring me happiness.
Happiness is a by-product of agape (self-sacrificing) love. In other words, in this passage from Matthew, we are being offered the choice of asking for more of God’s free gifts, the gift of grace- which is itself, selfless, unconditional, pure love. We are also able to ask for all the “fruits of the spirit” which are love, faith, peace, hope, gentleness, patience and self-control. And Jesus says, all we have to do is ask!
None of these “gifts” may seem high up on the lists of what people covet, but as you grow in each of them, you become wise, and you begin to realise that the illusive happiness you desire is in fact a by product of asking for more of these gifts of the spirit, and of God’s selfless, unconditional love to fill our own hearts and minds.
It makes sense then, that just before the words “ask and you shall receive”, the passage starts with the call to “not judge” and to “love one another”.
I think it is interesting that before asking God for anything at all, we need to align our hearts with that of our creator. So the beginning of this passage starts with checking that we are not judging those around us too harshly, “Judge not, that you be not judged”. The line about ‘taking the log out of your own eye before taking the spec out of your brother’s or sister’s eye’ a well known phrase- comes from this part of Matthew and just before the words, “ask and you shall receive”. It is right at the beginning of this passage.
So this week, maybe ask God to show you someone you need to forgive, and then ask for whatever grace you need from God to help you do so. Trust, as you ask, that the God who loves you and the person that you need to forgive, will indeed give you all the grace that you need, in order to forgive them and let it go.
Ask that all the mercy and love you need to be free of hate for them, can be yours, and in place of that bitterness, God will plant peace, hope, love, joy and understanding... Ask God to help you to not be a victim to that emotion of unforgiveness anymore, a hostage to hate. Ask that he will enable and show you how to forgive, even if you don’t want or feel you can.
‘Forgiveness’ is not primarily an ‘emotion’, as some mistakenly think, it is in fact an act of will and not simply a state of mind and so just willing to forgive someone and not condoning what they’ve done, is in fact setting them free from your mind, but in a deeper sense it is also setting you free at the same time.
They no longer take up residence in your head and have a hold on you, you are able to fill your heart, mind and soul instead with the pure love of God and all the gifts God has waiting for you- as “perfect love casts out fear”, so God’s perfect love can cast out whatever else you are afraid of, as you ask for more of it.
As you ask God for ‘more’ and seek his will for your life- why not also think about your own talents and what the purpose of your life is?
How can you use those talents for the glory of God and for encouragement of yourself and others around you? If you feel you have no talents- this is a lie - ask God to show you what those talents are and how you can use them to further his kingdom on earth? If you don’t know what that means, ask God to show you that too.
You see “giving” is not simply money or material possessions, in fact God reminds us, that what is most important is “treasure that will not rot”. In other words, God wants our hearts and our minds and our souls. God is indifferent to our “Goods” for there is nothing we can give God that is not already His, except ourselves.
So perhaps today, ask yourself also this question; am I fully sold out for God? If I’m not, how can I let those things that distract me from that love that I am shown by God and that I am to give out to others, be weeded out of my life? So that I can be a more effective kingdom giver?
Perhaps, imagine yourself weeding the garden of all those things that distract you and all those areas of darkness that need light. And picture yourself planting in their place, seeds of love, joy, hope, patience, goodness, peace and self-control. And so… as you ask God for more of these gifts, the flowers of your garden will flourish and you will achieve more than you dared to hope for- from the God whose love is infinitely greater for you and for those around you, than you can possibly imagine…
So why not ask for more of that love today? And…. Be blessed!
Helen