 Previous Chapter |
 Return to Outline |
 Ask Questions |
 Next Chapter |
Here in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, we have described the Christian way of approaching God. Three suggestions are given. "Ask, seek and knock." We have here not a formal definition of prayer, but a incidental one.
So, to pray is to "ask". When we ask, we should not try to tell God how to run His business. The "how, when and where" of our request should be left up to the better judgement of the Lord. Also we should not try to outguess the Lord with any preconceived notion of His answer. Our understanding is limited at best.
Then to ask is to "seek". We need to seek out God's answer in all the ways that are open to us. The Word, a friend or a chance incident, may very well be the source of our answer. Never limit the ways that God can communicate. When we think that God has not answered the problem usually lies with us. Improper request, worldly problems, sin or even noise can be what is blocking are ability to to hear God.
So we ask and we seek and then sometimes we must knock on the very gates of Heaven knowing that it will be opened to you for Christ had promised to all a "Throne of Grace" to which we all can come boldly. Christ said, you have not because you do not ask, He might very well have added, and sometimes you need to seek and knock.
THE SUMMATION OF CHAPTER 7 VERSES 1 THROUGH 12
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. In your judging, reproving, censuring, use this rule as a guide. In your praying, pray for others as you would have others pray for you. All this is grounded in the great commandment, "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thy self." Do this because it is what the Bible teaches. It sums up the way a Christian should live which, of course, is the theme of the Sermon on the Mount.
As much as we might like to think otherwise, there are only two types of people in this world. They are the "saved' and the "lost". The rest of the Sermon on the Mount is dedicated to the identifying of these two types of people. We will also see that there are no "gray areas", something is either right or its wrong. We are all walking in one of these two ways. Some may think they there is a "middle of the road" in this question, but there is not. Christ will be describing those two ways in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount.
Previous Chapter |
Return to Outline |
Ask Questions |
Next Chapter |