This is amazing and is so easily seen even with our kids. I don’t know about you but sometimes I have given in just to quiet my kids down. But that persistence is what God is looking for as we grow in our walk with the Lord. Persistence can be us not being satisfied or us being determined to grow. It is also about focus to what is important as we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God is not going to work in our timing so we must continue to ask and seek the things we want to know. Verses 9-10 say, “And so I tell you 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. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
When we realize God means everyone and we don’t have to be perfect our hearts will soften and make us continue to do all we can to know Christ. When we know Christ more we will be good even when things aren’t answered when we want them to be. Look what Jesus says to a woman that was blessing His mother’s womb for carrying Him. Luke chapter 11 verse 28, “Jesus replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” That is amazing to me, Jesus tells us it’s not only hearing but it’s also doing.
I was fortunate to preach a message on Luke chapter 10 when Jesus visits Martha and Mary. Verses 38-40 say, “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” We all have been in a situation where we were frustrated about what was going on and our busyness kept our focus off of what was important. I really like how Jesus answers her question. In verses 41-42 Jesus says, “But the Lord said to her. ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” She wanted nothing but to listen and hear what Jesus was going to teach and we should be concerned about the same things. Hearing and doing what God is teaching us in His word and then following Jesus because He did it perfectly. As we learn to give up control and following our Lord we realize that His timing is perfect and our persistence is what helps us get the answers on His timing. I want to end with a quote from Pastor Kelly Goff from The Rock Church and have us just think about it. “We need to stop putting due dates on God’s timing.” Amen