July 27 – Sermon
Thank You gracious God for this day of forgiveness, a day filled with Your never-ending grace; a day of promise, filled with love in action; a day of unity, where we build bridges of forgiveness and restoration; a day of celebration, as we worship You O Lord our God who holds all of creation and proclaims life over death in Jesus’ name. Amen
How many of you have been to a wedding in the last year? Weddings create memories to share—like the bride slipped and fell, or the best man dropped the ring, or the flower girl proclaimed her need for a potty break right in the middle of the vows. There are many unique wedding stories to tell.
In researching illustrations for this text, I found this example, although it is fiction: the bride and groom made their vows and professed their love for each other at a beautiful ceremony—the church filled with people. Everyone said they made a perfect couple, with a bright future ahead of them, and then, after the kiss, the groom holds his bride’s hand and says “Thanks a lot. If I need anything, I’ll call you.” and he just walked away!
The bride and groom had just made promises to spend their lives together. But if we reverse the roles, it describes many relationships, where people (the bride of Jesus) have come face to face with God, made promises, and then, the new believer checks in with God only when there is an urgent need or crisis.
Unfortunately that’s how many of us pray: we pray only when there is illness; we pray only when there’s a horrible test to take; or when there is a job interview. Otherwise, we handle life without God who has promised to go through life with us.
We forget that Jesus invited us to pray, and even commanded us to pray; but here’s the stumbling block: every time we pray the Lord’s prayer we submit our lives to the Lord God. Not my agenda. Not my plans. But God’s agenda. God’s plans. Pray for this, Jesus tells all who believe.
When the disciples watched Jesus praying, one of them asked Him how to pray. Jesus taught them the prayer that has come to be known as “The Lord’s Prayer”. We use the prayer every time we gather for worship, and it is the most prayed prayer on a daily basis for Christians. Jesus was teaching it as a style to be used. Praise, thank, confess and make requests to God.
I’d dare say we do “request” part very well. The praising God or thanking Him or confessing—not so much.
But that’s a sermon for another day. At the end of this gospel, Jesus says: “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Ask and it will be given to you; for whoever seeks finds, and whoever knocks the door is opened and whoever asks receives.” Seek, knock, and ask.
We live in a world of seekers. People all around us, including most of us are seekers. We are looking for the things that make life meaningful. There seems to be more disillusioned people than ever before. Financial or academic success doesn’t necessarily bring happiness. Relationships crash. People, technology, popularity, physical beauty sooner or later, all hit a wall.
In today’s gospel lesson. Jesus makes a promise to all those who are seeking: You will find. It may not be the exact answer you were looking for, but it very well may be the answer God has for you. When we seek God’s guidance in prayer, we must be open to the fact that what we think is the solution, may not be God’s will. But ultimately, that’s what prayer is… seeking God’s answers for the struggles of our lives.
Next, Jesus says to “Knock and the door will be opened.” Again, a promise. He uses the illustration of a neighbor knocking on our door because he has an urgent need. That neighbor will not go away until his request is granted. Jesus encouraged persistence. Even when it comes to prayer.
But not all prayer is about conversation. Sometimes prayer is about quietly listening.
You see, prayer isn’t always an urgent knocking at God’s door. Sometimes, it’s about listening to what God has to say to us. Sometimes God calms the storm, other times, he calms his child. Prayer may change our circumstance, but more often prayer changes us.
Finally, Jesus says, “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and it will be given.” Jesus uses the illustration of a human father, who would not give his child a snake when they ask for a fish. No human father would give his daughter a spider if she asked for an egg. But let’s turn that sentence around; what if the child asks for a spider? What if the child asks for something that the father knows would be dangerous for the child? Does the father oblige the child? Absolutely not!
We really don’t know what’s good for us, for our life, for the good of others, for all eternity. God invites us to be persistent in our asking, but God will not give us something that is harmful.
Prayer is a means of seeking, knowing that God loves us and made us His own. It is knocking, knowing that Jesus promises to welcome us in. It is asking, trusting that God will give us what is best.
Lord, teach us to pray ….” Personal. Flowing freely from faith. Focused on our Heavenly Father. And as his children, asking for what we need and receiving it with thanksgiving. Amen.
