Daily Devotions
Ask and It Will Be Given
Title: Ask and It Will Be Given
Reading for April 9: 1 Kings 1-2
Weekly reading for April 8-14: Luke 10-14
"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Luke 11:9
This promise is greatly misunderstood. It has been worn out by those in the "health and prosperity" movement who promise their followers everything under the sun. To them, God is reduced to an ATM or a vending machine. Just punch in a few numbers, say a few words in prayer, and you've got whatever you want.
This promise needs to be understood in the greater context of the gospel. Jesus came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Jesus' promise to the poor was not that they would no longer be poor, but that they would receive the kingdom (Luke 6:20). Even those who received physical healing from Jesus were reminded of the greater work Jesus came to do (Luke 5:17-26).
But not only does this promise need to be interpreted in the larger context of the gospel, it needs to be understood in the more narrow context of the passage itself. Earlier in the passage, Jesus said we should ask the Father for our "daily bread" (v 3). Then later Jesus noted how earthly fathers respond to the requests of their children, and then He said, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (v 13)
Father, give us this day our daily bread. Don't give us too much or too little, lest we be consumed by worldly cares. More than that, give us your Holy Spirit!
