Jesus 101: Keep on Keeping On


I heard a teacher say once that we should only ask God for something once.  We should ask him once and trust him for the result.  

But Jesus said something different.  It's something you can see in Greek, but not in English.  Greek has a verbal tense that implies continual action.  Matthew 7:7 is in that tense.  Jesus said, "Keep on asking and you shall receive, keep on seeking and you will find, keep on knocking and the door will be opened."

So Jesus encouraged persistent prayer.  

But about what?  We don't have to go to the Greek to find that.  In Matthew 7:12, he said, "So in everything, do to others what you want for them to do for you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."  

Our asking, seeking, and knocking isn't about material goodies for ourselves.  It's about the power of the Holy Spirit to do others what we would want them to do for us.  

Our persistent prayer should be that God will give us the power to love everyone around him in his name.  

Not just those we love and who love us.  But those who we have a hard time loving and who don't love us!

Pray persistently in that, and God will bless you and give you what you ask for!

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