Luke 11:9-10 And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.… This is a very defective world. Everybody says so. We have here only the rudiments of things. There is beauty and there is blessing; but only in fragments. The consequence is that we hear endless murmuring and complaining. 1. "Ask and it shall be given you," is the reply of God. I have given you half; the other half is in My hand. You build a house, and one stone is wanting to complete it; you search everywhere, and are angry because you find it not. It is with Me; I have kept it purposely, that your house may not be built without Me. You build a ship; but the rudder is not forthcoming. I have kept it, that you may ask and receive, and discover that the whole is My gift." 2. Ask in the right quarter and it shall be given you. 3. Ask in the right way. Let God prescribe how we shall ask Him. 4. Ask for the most essential gifts first. Men on a wreck would ask for a sail, not for an embroidered garment. 5. Ask for regulated tastes and desires. This one gift will cut off at once a thousand occasions of murmuring. 6. Ask with importunity. 7. Ask in faith. (G. Bowen.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. |