A Closed Door

I have been meditating on the word "enter" (Matthew 7:13) we were considering last time. It includes not only the command to do so, but shows our responsibility of taking an action. God reaches out to us, providing through His Love an access to Him. But we have to take the next step and, unless we do, for us in that passisve state, there might as well be no provision at all. God is so awesome in His Being. His love and mercy, holiness and power, wisdom and knowledge are so complete we cannot perceive in our limited capacity such Light that in Him is no darkness at all. He fills all space and is ever present, all knowing, and from Him we cannot hide. Yet we live our lives as though we, and our circumstances, actions and dreams, are everything. Most people in your own city don't even know you and couldn't care less about your circumstances. In five years you won't even have full memory recall of your circumstances and actions. But we still ignore God's extended invitation to "enter" His realm.

Jesus outlines the path of our responsibility in taking a step toward God. It is a progressive path, leading onward and upward, toward His complete provision for us. Matthew 7:7-12(NLT) 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. 12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

This passages reveals the progressive growth in our approach to God and in God's response to us at each level. We don't start out "knocking" because we do not know how to do so. "Asking" is on our human level of achieving. Many do not go beyond that stage. Only the Spirit of God can teach us how to seek. Many of our opinions and "hang-ups" have to be dealt with and overcome before we can learn to seek. How much more so with learning to "knock". Many never even realize there is a door on which to knock, but being earnest to seek God's ways and being obedient to walk in the way revealed, will lead you to the door and it will be opened.