God Hears and Gives Good Gifts to His Children--Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

This reminds me of one of the names of God, "The God who sees me" (see Genesis 16: 13).  While God sees and meets all of our needs, He is a good father who enjoys it when His children come to Him to ask for their needs to be met.  They have the understanding that only He can meet their needs, that He has the resources and desire to do so, and that He would only do what's best for them.

In the same way, we need to ask, not to treat God like a genie in a bottle that fulfills our every desire, but when we genuinely have a need and realize it is something that we need to turn over to God and trust Him to provide.  Such action shows our true faith in Him and shines the spotlight on Him and brings glory to His great name--remember this seems to be the theme of this entire sermon.

Keeping the great name of God and His reputation in mind, examine the next part of the passage.  If the wicked fathers of this world in their imperfect love know how to give good gifts to their children and provide for their needs, how much more then should we believe that our heavenly Father who loves His children perfectly knows and will meet all of their needs?  It would only damage His reputation if He did not.

Do not misuse this passage as a "name it and claim it" passage....it is not about you, it's all about Him.  Ask in such a way where where you, like David in the Psalms pour out your heart and tell God your need, but then come back to His character and believe that He will meet your needs in a way that is best for you and which brings glory to Himself.