Original Entry: August 2, 2008
McMinnville, OR
Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you. Matthew 7:7
“So I say
to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9
The last
weekend in August probably means nothing to most of you but for archery hunters
in Oregon it might as well be a national holiday. Archers have one month to hunt an elk of
either sex and one general season deer tag, and a late fall hunt for both species
as well if they are unsuccessful in the summer. This means that Oregon archers
have the opportunity to hunt a Roosevelt or Rocky Mountain elk as well
as one of the following species of deer; Blacktail, Mule, or Whitetail
depending on geographic region! Oregon
is archer paradise.
This date
is set apart but only marks the beginning of one month of consistent pursuit
for a big game trophy with a bow. What
is astonishing is that statistically most hunters never enter the field after
the opening. Many hunters look forward
to the “Holy Opener” for an entire year but never hunt beyond that, and wonder
why they never experience success.
Success on
any level has to do with, among other things, consistency. It is not so much about being the best as it
is about out lasting the rest. Success
has to do with keeping at it until you have it.
Success is found in “keeping”.
As we look
at the passages for today note that the verbs, “ask, seek, and knock” are in
the present imperative form of the verbs, which changes the reading
dramatically. A more accurate translation would be, “Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep
knocking.”
“Keep” is
the catalyst in our seeking. “Keep” is
the process that moves us beyond the annual opener and takes us to the next
level in our great hunt for God. As we
read today’s passages it is important to not forget one key ingredient in how
it should be translated.
Jesus is
calling men to be committed and consistent in their spiritual
journey. Our faith in Jesus must move
beyond the opening day if our salvation is to be what God desires. Sunday is the man of God’s weekly opener, but
Sunday will not bring the success that Jesus Christ offers to those who live by
the “keep.”
