The Sermon on the Mount – Perseverance and Trust

This week’s passage: Matthew 7:7-14

Ask In His Name

Want to know more about God? Ask Him! Seek the scriptures because it is all there, knock on His door in prayer. The world tells us that scripture is too confusing, but this couldn’t be further from the truth for the believer. The more time we spend in scripture, the more we see that each book, chapter, verse, and word builds our understanding of God’s love and provision.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)

Jesus tells us not to give up, even when the world is clouding our eyes and minds, we are to be persistent, keep praying for God to give us wisdom and discernment so that we may be confident in Him and He can show us how to forgive, love and encourage one another as He does us.

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11 ESV)

We love giving gifts to our children that make them smile from ear to ear, it gives us so much pleasure to see them joyful. Parents know that children often ask for things that they are not ready to handle, or that could potentially cause harm and sometimes we have to say no or give something different to keep them safe. When our kids ask us for things that truly build them up, encourage them and strengthen our relationship, you can’t stop us from fulfilling that request. This is what God does for us, when we are asking for His will in our lives.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14 ESV)

The Gate is Open!

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 ESV)

If you are feeling like Matthew 7:12 is a bit random and out of place, look back at what we have studied so far on the Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7). In many translations, this verse will start with “therefore” and as I’m sure you’ve heard many a pastor or bible teacher say, if we see the word “therefore” we should ask ourselves what it is “there for”. Jesus is telling the disciples that everything He has told them so far in this sermon basically sums up the Law they have been trying to follow and the lessons they have heard from the Prophets.

This scripture is commonly referred to as “The Golden Rule” and was once well known and referred to often in secular and religious households in America. I remember it being posted on the wall in many a classroom, and my mother often said “do undo others!” as a short way of pointing out that whatever I was doing could easily be turned back at me and I probably wouldn't like it.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)

Jesus reminds us that following Him may not be easy, but He is the only way to salvation. This journey to know Him, fear Him and love Him – it is completely fulfilling because we were made in His image and our hearts long to be with Him. Until we respond to Him, the sin that we are born with takes over and we can’t feel whole. We might think we are okay, that we are “good” people but deep down there is something missing and that something is Jesus.

I truly feel that time is short for this world, and I know that time is short for those of us that are in it today because none of us are promised even one more second. Pray that people will receive the salvation that Jesus died to give before it is too late. If you have friends and family that are resisting the love and provision of Christ – pray, pray, pray that they see the narrow gate and long to go through it.

How can we apply this passage to the growth of our “salt and light”?

• Continue to ask for the things in your life that you are passionate about. Stand on the promise of God to always give us those things that glorify Him. You can know He is listening.
• Always be honest with yourself and God about your needs (vs wants). God knows, so you can’t trick Him into thinking that you really want His will when what you are asking for something that does not align. If you know that what you want is not in His will, ask Him to remove the desire for it.

If you see other ways to apply this Word in your life, feel free to share in the comments.