My Favorite Verses - Vol III (Aug 16 to Nov 16)

Matthew 7:7-8 … To Seek and to Find
(10/22/2016)
“Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will
be opened … For everyone who asks receives and everyone who Searches finds,
and for everyone who knocks, their door will be opened.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 7:7-8)
This verse is quite important indeed, and yet not in its traditional context …
For the typical, conservative, religiously dogmatic interpretation of this passage
claims that all the “good Christian” has to do is ask for whatever he or she desires
and the same will be given to them by God. And in Truth this flagrant
misapplication has led to the infestation of the false theology commonly known as
the “Prosperity Gospel” in many modern Christian churches – a teaching that not
only flies in the face of what Jesus meant with this particular passage, but also a
teaching that fully contradicts the founding principles upon which Jesus‟ teachings
stood (and upon which they still stand today) …
Indeed (in Deed!), it doesn‟t take a rocket scientist to note that Jesus‟ entire
ministry was founded upon the principle of selfless Love and self-sacrificial
Generosity. Yes, it is true that he did often claim that we could receive our
deepest desires -- and yet only those desires that resonated with his Way; only
those desires that existed in harmony with the will of our True Selves; only those
yearnings that were actualized “in Christ‟s name” (see Matthew 18:5, Matthew 24:5,
Mark 9:37-39, Luke 10:17, John 14:26 et al) – a name that yearned for only one thing:
to ease the suffering of others; to bring others Peace &/or Joy.
And indeed this is what will be given to us every time we ask “in his name”
(John 14:13-14), for every time we do so -- every time we humble ourselves as
young children and pray "in his name", an opportunity to serve another is
immediately given to us; an opportunity to serve that was waiting to be recognized
and engaged all along. And this is the gift that will always be given; this is the
door that will always be opened -- for this and this alone is The Way of Christ.
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