Does Jesus answer questions when we ask Him?
He says, “Yes!”
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened” (Matt. 7:7, 8).
It’s His character to want to respond to every hungry, seeking human soul; but there are questions:
“Why is it that often when we pray for something, we don’t get it?”
(a) If a child sees a flashy sharp knife and wants it and asks for it, the wise father will not give it.
(b) The Lord is our heavenly Father; we are to Him little children; He manifests His love to us in saying “No!” to our misplaced prayers.
(c) But He goes a step further in His love for us. If, for our good, He must say “No!” to this or that prayer, He emphasizes His love for us by giving us something else that this time is good for us—something we have been too blind to see or too naive to desire.
(d) A child has no idea what wonderful life career his wise father has prepared for him; the only earthly career or activity that we will be happy for in eternity is the soul-winning activity that we have been involved in.
(e) And there is nothing the Lord is more happy to give us now than the ability to win some soul for eternity.
(f) It may be that what is needed is not some lengthy, involved, theological “Bible study,” but a few words of understanding love and appreciation; Jesus says to “ask” Him to give them to us; He will.
(g) Now, it’s your job to pass them on; some word that will build up, elevate, encourage someone who is wishing he/she knew how to follow Jesus in salvation—
(h) Practical, down to earth, heart preparation for the return of the Lord—as He has promised when He said, “I will come again” (John 14:1-3).
(i) He is like a bridegroom who feels he can’t wait for the wedding to take place: so far, Jesus has had to be a disappointed Bridegroom.
(j) The story is in the Song of Solomon 5:2-4—note the last part where the bride-to-be finally forgets her own comfy warmth in bed on this rainy night and she begins to think about her lover, the one man in the world who loves her truly, is outside in the rain “knocking” on her door.
(k) Finally, the inspired story says, her heart was “moved for Him.”
(l) Has that moment come for the Lord’s world-wide church?
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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