Passionate Knock

If we are passionate about something or someone, we will not wait on circumstances. Passion will drive us to act in such a way that circumstances yield to our passion, prayer and drive. Often the greatest opportunities and treasures are reserved for those who have the passion to pray, be creative and act to overcome the obstacles. The locked gate will often yield to the persistent, passionate knock.

The fervent prayers recorded in Scripture reveal the great passions of men and women of faith who have earnestly sought after God and His kingdom. Without a passion, our lives are bland and mundane; with a passion, they can be dynamic and productive.

The reformer John Knox had a passion and vision to reach the nation of Scotland with the Gospel. Though persecuted by the Church of Rome and others, he continued to boldly proclaim the truth of God’s Word. He would frequently pray with fervency and power, “O God, give me Scotland, or I die!” God heard those cries and worked through John Knox to bring about a great awakening in that nation. What passions do we have that call for fervent praying, diligent seeking, and persistent knocking?

If we ask, seek, and knock, God will open up the right doors.

In this command, Jesus did not identify what the “door” represented. However, other Scripture verses explain the significance of a door. The first door that Jesus will open up is a greater understanding of Himself. He stated, “I am the door” (John 10:9). He will then open up a door of faith. (See Acts 14:27.) Through faith, He will open up great and effectual doors of opportunity. (See I Corinthians 16:9.) With these doors will come a further “door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3). It is God Who opens these doors, not us; and we are told in Revelation 3:8 that when God opens a door, no man can shut it.

In your journaling this week, it would be meaningful to record any significant prayers that you have not yet seen God answer. Think through the searching and knocking that you can do in order to appropriate what you asked God for. Your personal experiences related to this command will be a valuable spiritual heritage from which your family and others can gain insights and encouragement to ask, seek, and knock. -- from Daily Success


“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you …” (Matthew 7:7–8).