It takes a good question to find the narrow way leading to eternal life. Have I asked to be given what I need?

It takes a bit of pondering to seek a worthy treasure. Have I settled for mediocrity or given up on excellence?

Energy expended in knocking at the right door of opportunity will not lead to destruction. Am I part of the few who persevere to find it opening?

I heard a young man describe a friend of his who followed Christ wholeheartedly as a quality person. He would surely consider her for a wife!

I found it refreshing to hear that it was not because she was someone who was easily seduced that put her in the “quality” category, but someone who reflected Christ.

Religion is different than relationship. One is “about” God and the other is “with” God. Taking care of orphans and widows in their distress is done “with” the love of God, only then considered “pure” religion that involves a true relationship (James 1:27).

I read a tweet from @CSLewis daily saying, “Of all the bad men, religious bad men are the worst.” – C.S. Lewis

I would say that is because a religious bad person is caught up with finding correct answers but not changing their humanly deceptive heart through the power of God. Correct answers only lead to knowledge which puffs up but as Paul the apostle states, love builds up! (I Corinthians 8:1)

If our right actions stem from a need to only be correct, then the power of love has not yet transformed our hearts.

Asking the difficult question (aka…I need something/asked with humility) is necessary in order to be given the rewarding answer.

Seeking the worthy treasure begins with discerning true quality.

Knocking at the door of God’s heart allows us to gain entrance into His fellowship, through His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

In so doing, we will begin to lose our insecurities caused by sin’s curse. Only then, will we be able to treat others as we would love to be treated.

I have struggled with feelings of being left out, over-giving to gain acceptance and jealousy/anger of those who attempt to take what I feel is rightfully mine. Reading this passage reminds me that it’s not other people’s job to make me feel included, I must ask the right question of the Lord for myself. Over-giving leads to being “used” by others or not valued as the quality person God has made me. Trying to “hold on” to what is mine only leads to achy hands. By opening my fingers, I can be released of bad feelings, knowing God will truly give every opportunity that is mine.

Have you asked, are you seeking, will you knock? Each season of life requires a different way of addressing these three questions. None is more rewarding than the present realization that He is waiting for our fellowship (questions). -Teresa

Matthew 6:7-13 (ESV)

Ask, and It Will Be Given

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

¹² “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy^[b] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.