“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Ask – Many people know that one of my favorite verses is James 4:2, “You do not have because you do not ask.” I have embarrassed my family more times than they can count because at restaurants I ask for free desserts or free hats. But if the truth be known, I have received a bunch of free desserts and free hats simply because I asked. I would not have them had I not asked. Often when I ask the answer is “No”, but sometimes the answer is “Yes.” I wonder how many more “Yes’s we would have from God if we were just willing to ask.
Seek -We often try to hide from God (see Genesis 3) but God does not try to hide from us. His promise is that “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) If we want to know God He will make Himself known. He created us that we might know Him. It is our sinfulness that keeps us from seeing Him or even seeking after Him and it is our sin that we often try to hide from Him. But He is more than willing to be found.
Knock – Knocking is an act of faith. It is a way of saying “I want to meet whoever is on the other side of the door.” It is not enough to stand on the porch and hope that the door will open by itself. If you want to meet Jesus you have to demonstrate your faith via an intentional act of knocking. Often that act will take the form of a prayer. It might go something like this: “Lord, I’m knocking. I want to know You and be known by You. I want what You have to give me.”
Why this BRICK is foundational: Faith is more than cognitive assent – it involves intentional action. When we ask, seek, and knock we are demonstrating to God that He is the One that can satisfy the desires of our heart and the longings of our soul.