Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Apples of gold in settings of silver*

Thursday, March 8, 2001

Matthew 7:7-12
Jesus says, "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; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if his 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!

So in everything,
do to others what you would have them do to you,
for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

When I read this passage I am awed by Jesus' eloquence and wisdom. The interpreter, the analyst, the thinker in me is silenced, and I just listen to the words. My hands finger the guitar chords of a musical rendition of verses 7 and 8. Verses 9, 10 and 11 give me freedom to be wrong (hallelujah!)...God will give me good gifts when I trust him, no matter what I ask for. And then follows the Golden Rule.

So today I have (almost) nothing to say. Let me end with Eugene Peterson's take on this passage in his Biblical paraphrase, The Message:

"Don't bargain with God.
Be direct.

Ask for what you need.
This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in.

If your child asks for bread,
do you trick him with sawdust?
If he asks for fish,
do you scare him with a live snake on his plate?

As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing.
You're at least decent to your own children.
So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

"Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior:

Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get."

God, your words fill me today with joy and peace. Let them bear fruit in my life, my own words and my choices and actions on this very day. Amen.

*Proverbs 25:11

Devotions Archive

Apples of gold in settings of silver*

Thursday, March 8, 2001