Let me tell you a story...
A little boy around 4 years old, let's call him, Luke. Well, Luke is going into the grocery store with his mom. Before they even go into the store, Luke's mom tells him to not even ask for chocolate chip cookies today and not to ask. Remember that. That's very important.
They get into the store and Luke is doing so good for his mom. He's sitting in the seat of the buggy being a good boy. Well, they finally make it to the cookie aisle and he speaks up.
"Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?"
"Luke, I told you not to even ask. The answer is no, you're not getting any today."
They continue down the aisles so mom can get the things on her grocery list. In search of something in particular, low and behold, they end up back on the aisle where the cookies are. Luke decided to ask again.
"Mom, can I please have some cookies?"
"I told you that you can't have any today. Now sit down and be quiet."
They finally arrive at the checkout. Luke senses that the end is in sight, that this might be his last chance. He stands up in the buggy seat and musters his voice as loud as he can.
"In the name of Jesus, may I please have some chocolate chip cookies?!"
Everyone in the checkout lanes laughed and applauded Luke. All the shoppers, moved by his daring plea, pooled up their money and Luke ended up going home with 20 boxes of cookies!!
When Jesus invited His disciples to ask, seek and knock, He used the Greek present-imperative tense. What that means is that He is urging us to be constant --- that He is encouraging us to keep on asking and keep on seeking and keep on knocking. It's persistent prayer that Jesus is emphasizing. He is telling us to be persistent in our pursuit of God and many other things.
Luke 11:9-10 says "So I say to you: 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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
When Jesus taught His disciples in parables, He made sure that they understood by also giving them the spiritual application. He told His disciples that when they ask of God, they shall receive; what they seek, they shall find; and when they knock, the door will be opened to them. By repeating these promises, Jesus emphasized the certainty that God will answer persistent prayer.
Do you remember or know the parable of the woman who kept going to the Judge asking for the same thing over and over again. She was persistent in her request. She kept going back and asking until she finally got the Judge to grant her request. Now, I'm not saying to pester people until they give you what you want. Maybe that's not what God wants for you. But, I do believe it is imperative to keep asking, seeking and knocking until you get an answer. It may not be what you want, but that answer you receive may be directing you towards something even better.
Stand firm in your Grace for others, even those you don't see eye-to-eye with. Lord knows we live in a society with hateful people that will wretched things to you if you don't think like they do. I watched an online video this morning. In this news clip, a black man named Clay Cane called the ladies that make up Diamond and Silk, get this... 'Clowns on crack!' Don Lemon and the other two commentators busted out laughing. In my opinion, that's not only rude, its disrespectful.
Please be cognizant about how you treat others, but be steadfast in your persistent. There is a right way and a wrong way to utilize scripture correctly. I pray you have a good day/night, where ever you may be. Be Salt and Light.
