This little word is fascinating. Though we may think of it simply as the word for posing a question, it can be much more than that.
It is an acronym for three critical responsibilities of a Christian. Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). In English, the first letters of each of these three actions happen to form the word ask. Let's explore the principle of this verse for a moment.
We know that we are to ask God for those things we have need of. But we are not finished with our request if we just ask. We must follow up with seeking the right answer. If we don't find it, we have to go back and knock on the door for help. Knocking involves both asking and seeking, as well as interaction, which completes this process.
But let's look a little deeper. Asking must be done in faith that God will hear and respond. "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord" (James 1:6-7).
Seeking often refers to seeking God and His way. Our primary goal in life is to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). In the context of asking something of God, seeking starts with searching God's Word to be sure our petition is according to His will. Notice this guideline: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). Seeking includes searching the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). to see whether the answer is already given in writing. It can refer to seeking counsel from those who know God's way (Malachi 2:7).
Knocking implies not giving up when we have asked and sought and yet found no answer. We now have to solicit help from someone who can open the door to the answer or solution we need. When this same instruction is given in Luke 11, Jesus used the example of a man seeking bread, knocking on the door of his friend who is already in bed. He concludes, "Though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him" (verse 8). We must sometimes come back to God in this same way, knowing that only He can provide what we need.
It may be a fluke of the English language that Christ's instruction to ask, seek and knock can be so easily remembered by association with the simple word ask. But we should hold on to this memory crutch and take the action it requires. This little word sums up the promise of Proverbs 3:6: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." ASK! UN
