Asking is a way of life lived with an open hand. To ask is to depend on someone other than yourself. It is very humbling. Asking indicates :
- I dont know
- I failed
- I ran out
- I cant find it
- I'm not sure
- I dont understand
- I forgot
- I didnt listen
- I didnt care
- I was wrong
- I'm not prepared
- I need some mroe information
- I came up short
Theres and interesting dilemma here for christians. If christianity is no more than a system of answers of all lifes questions, then to admit any of the above shortcomings is to be something less than a good christian. But in our own attempts to become good christians , we undermine our need for God. We want christianity to work. We want it to exist in a closed system where every question has an answer, every problem has a solution. We want to show the world a neat, clean, open and shut case for christianity. But in teh process, we unknowingly shut out God.
Claiming to be wise , we become fools; We exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship the created things (our systems, principles and formulas) rather than teh creator - who is forever blessed. Amen (romans 1:22-25... "22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.")
Thats why jesus says we should ask. Asking puts us back on track with God. it assumes a need of relationship with HIm- a hand to mouth spiritual existance. A vulnerable daily dependance. In a society that rushes to fill every felt need, that steals away the soul of a person and offers to sell it back at a price, we need to rekindle what it means to ask God.
Matthew 7:7-12
"7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
John 16:19-28
"19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
- I dont know
- I failed
- I ran out
- I cant find it
- I'm not sure
- I dont understand
- I forgot
- I didnt listen
- I didnt care
- I was wrong
- I'm not prepared
- I need some mroe information
- I came up short
Theres and interesting dilemma here for christians. If christianity is no more than a system of answers of all lifes questions, then to admit any of the above shortcomings is to be something less than a good christian. But in our own attempts to become good christians , we undermine our need for God. We want christianity to work. We want it to exist in a closed system where every question has an answer, every problem has a solution. We want to show the world a neat, clean, open and shut case for christianity. But in teh process, we unknowingly shut out God.
Claiming to be wise , we become fools; We exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship the created things (our systems, principles and formulas) rather than teh creator - who is forever blessed. Amen (romans 1:22-25... "22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.")
Thats why jesus says we should ask. Asking puts us back on track with God. it assumes a need of relationship with HIm- a hand to mouth spiritual existance. A vulnerable daily dependance. In a society that rushes to fill every felt need, that steals away the soul of a person and offers to sell it back at a price, we need to rekindle what it means to ask God.
Matthew 7:7-12
"7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
John 16:19-28
"19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
and thanks for taking the time to serve us all with this important thread 
