Receive

Something has occurred to me recently about the average Christian.  Few know how to receive from The Lord.  Instead we work hard to earn what God has given for free.  Consider what Jesus said:

Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being 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!

Jesus declares that our "requirement" for receiving is asking.  Yet in many ways we have added so much to the simple equation.  God says:

ASKING = RECEIVING

We have decided, however, to "fix" the equation.  Think of some of the things we have added to the asking side.  We say

ASKING +

1. Having the right person pray for us = RECEIVING.

2. Following all of the correct theological stipulations = RECEIVING.

3. Begging and convincing God of our worthiness = RECEIVING.

4. Determining the seriousness of our own need as compared to someone else = RECEIVING.

5. Giving the right amount at the right time = RECEIVING.

The reality is that this is a short list that could go much larger.  We have made difficult so much of what God has declared. He says ask and you shall receive. We must quit adding our thoughts and opinions to the equation.