Tues 25th August

#101. Digging up heaven’s treasures

 

Our Good Shepherd said ‘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.’ (Matthew 7v7,8).  What simple, straight-forward words to motivate us to do the most profound thing in heaven and earth: to pray.

Think about it. First, we know that we are empty of all goodness and strength and that we need help.  Second, we know we cannot help ourselves and so we must go outside ourselves to One who can help us.  Third, we know that this One is the Lord God Almighty who is prepared to give us all that we need to help us in this life.  Fourth, we know that the Lord God will not just give us this help or the treasures of heaven; we know that we have to ask Him for them in prayer.  Hence Jesus says, ‘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.’

That is the value and use of prayer

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

Prayer, asking God, brings every blessing from above!  “It is by the benefit of prayer that we reach those riches which are laid up for us with the Heavenly Father…. We dig up, by prayer, the treasures that were pointed out by the Lord’s gospel, and which our faith has gazed upon.” (John Calvin)

So, do you need the treasure of Peace? Joy? Patience? Love? Kindness? Goodness?  Faithfulness?  Gentleness?  Self-control?  Provision?  Contentment?  Help?  Deliverance?  Salvation?  Comfort? Assurance? The Spirit?  More grace?  Our faith gazes upon all these treasures and they can be ours through prayer because they are promised us in Jesus

So lets do that simple but profound thing that Jesus said, ‘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.’

Love from Paul