Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) With these familiar words, Jesus paints prayer as an active, ongoing pursuit. He not only gives us a pattern for prayer but ties it to how we treat one another—leading to what we know as the Golden Rule.
Jesus describes prayer as a simple procedure: Ask, Seek, Knock—words increasing in intensity. Asking is the beginning, seeking requires effort, and knocking persists until the door opens. Too often, we ask God only when crisis strikes, treating prayer like “cake for special occasions” instead of “bread for daily consumption.”
Jesus reminds us that prayer is not about twisting God’s arm, but about drawing near to His heart. As James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.” Asking acknowledges a need, seeking aligns us with His will, and knocking shows faith that He hears us.
Prayer also comes with a sovereign promise. Jesus says, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7: 8). Oh, so we can expect God to hand us everything on our wish list? No! Like a wise father, He knows when to say yes, no, or not yet.
When a child asks for bread, no good dad gives him a stone. Even flawed human parents want to bless their children. How much more, then, does our perfect Father in heaven delight to give us what is best? As 1 John 5:14 declares: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Finally, Jesus lays down a standard principle: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12) The Golden Rule is not simply avoiding harm but actively doing good. While other religions phrased similar mottos negatively (“Do not do to others what you dislike”), Jesus flips the advice positive: take the initiative, show kindness, meet needs. It’s not enough to refrain from hurting; followers of Christ are called to bless first.
Because God has been generous to us, we’re called to be generous to others. As we learn to pray persistently and trust His goodness, He transforms our hearts to reflect His. Prayer and the Golden Rule are linked: the more we commune with God, the more we will imitate His generosity toward others.
At LECC we try to be people who ask, seek, and knock—not only at heaven’s door but also for opportunities to serve our neighbors. And if you’d like a place to grow in this rhythm, come join us at 415897 Highway 9 in Eufaula—where you can ask questions in small group Bible study at 10 a.m., seek God in worship at 11 a.m., and knock on new friendships during our Wednesday night allage activities at 6:30 p.m. Here, we learn together how the Golden Rule starts with golden prayers.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
