Matthew 7:7 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
I love it how my son reminds me of the fun way my Dad taught us (me and my sister) the words to Matthew 7:7. The “lesson” started when I was 6 or 7 years old and still continues to this day… 43 years later.
This past winter we were “snowed” in by a winter storm that hit the entire east coast . My area got between 9 and 10 inches of snow…VERY uncommon for this area. Anyway, on this particular morning my son was getting in some target practice with his Nerf gun. He’d take aim at the refrigerator, the oven, the microwave, etc. and then pull the trigger letting the Nerf bullet rip. When the cartridge holding about 15 of these little Nerf bullets was empty, he called out “Mom, where are my bullets?” I hadn’t even been in the kitchen where he was shooting. How should I know where his bullets had flown off to? This question triggered the memory of my childhood and my search for shoes, books, brushes, etc.
When I was younger, whenever I’d say “Dad, where are my shoes?” His response would almost always be “Matthew 7:7.” Now I have to tell you that being in church nearly every Sunday and Wednesday since I was 7 days old, I recognized right away that Matthew was one of the Bible’s New Testament books and the 7:7 referenced the chapter number and verse location. Needless to say this answer from my father would send me huffing and puffing back into my room to sulk. I look back on it all now and have to laugh.
When the words “Mom, where are my bullets?” came out of my son’s mouth, I really wanted to say “Matthew 7:7.” But I savored the memory of those moments with my Dad. Just to let you in on a little secret…I have started shouting out “Matthew 7:7” more and more lately as I’m asked “Where is my notebook?” or “Where is my iPad?” Funny how he gives me the same exact response I gave my dad all those years ago.
In my quiet moments with the Lord this morning, I went back to Matthew 7:7. These words were spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. My study this morning focused on the word “seek.”
The Greek word for seek is zēteō which means: to seek or strive after, endeavor, to desire
The question I asked myself this morning was: “Do I desire or strive after seeking God and his plan for my life on a daily basis?”
Tough question for me to answer. I’d like to say I do…but sometimes I get overwhelmed by the stuff of my day and my quiet moments with the Lord get pushed to the side. If my desire is to wholeheartedly seeking Him, He should be the ONE thing I am not allowing to slip.
This year, I’ve made a commitment to wholeheartedly SEEK first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). I can’t wait to see what see what God will do in my life as I earnestly seek Him in everything I do.
Will you join me on this journey of SEEKING God first? Commit to give God the first and best of your day. Read your Bible, pray throughout the day about everything, and journal what you are feeling the Lord is saying to you.
“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” (Psalm 70:4)
Please hear me when I say – the voice in your head is not the voice of truth! The voice of truth does not bring condemnation or words of hate. The voice of truth speaks words of love and encouragement.
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