He also said to them, “Imagine that one of you has a friend and you go to that friend in the middle of the night. Imagine saying, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread because a friend of mine on a journey has arrived and I have nothing to set before him.’ Imagine further that he answers from within the house, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I assure you, even if he wouldn’t get up and help because of his friendship, he will get up and give his friend whatever he needs because of his friend’s brashness. And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened. “Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:5-13, CEB)
I really don’t like certain versions of this story. This one in Luke and the one in Mark I believe, where it basically says ask and get, knock and it will be opened, and search and you will find. It makes God into a cosmic vending machine. Anything I want all I need to do is be brash enough about and God will give it to me. And I know this is not how God works.
Some version of this parable/story says if it is the will of God you will get is, it will be opened, or you will find it. Somethings aren’t going to happen because they aren’t going to happen.
Just because I ask to win the Lottery doesn’t mean I will. Just because I look for the winning ticket doesn’t mean I’ll find it. God doesn’t feed our wants, God feeds our needs. And even feeding our needs isn’t always they was we want them fed.
Do not think you will always get what you ask, try to open, or search for. But know you will always have what you need.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 