AP

Matthew 7:9-11   “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

I’m glad Jesus went on to say these words straight after he’d given the promise that whatever we ask for he will give us.  Many times throughout my Christian life (and especially recently!) I’ve pleaded with my Heavenly Father for things that seemed to be in accordance with his will, and things haven’t turned out the way I had desperately hoped!  This can be very disappointing, and a bit confusing in the light of the unconditionsal nature of the promise.
But, because of Jesus’ words here, I have come to see that even my deepest longings might not be in line with God’s good plan for my life (hard as that might be for me to imagine at the time!).  It is helpful also for me to reflect on the way Luke reports this statement of Jesus: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)  What better gift could there be for me than to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of my Triune God?
The song my late wife, Pat, wanted sung at her funeral says it all for me: “Whate’er my God ordains is right, his holy will abideth; I will be still whate’er he does and follow where he guideth; he is my God, though dark my road, he holds me that I shall not fall – and so to him, I leave it all.  Whate’er my God ordains is right, he never will deceive me; he leads me by the proper path – I know he will not leave me. I take, content, what he has sent, his hand can turn my griefs away, and patiently, I wait his day.  Whate’er my God ordains is right, though now this cup, in drinking, may bitter seem to my faint heart I take it all, unshrinking; my God is true, each morn anew, sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, and pain and sorrow shall depart.  Whate’er my God ordains is right, here shall my stand be taken: though sorrow, need, or death be mine yet I am not forsaken; my Father’s care is ’round me there, he holds me that I shall not fall, and so to him, I leave it all” (Samuel Rodigast).

– Bruce Christian