Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 WEB
Most men would not give something harmful to a son or daughter. Even though we are far short of revealing the heart of God in our own lives, we know how to give good gifts to our children. Jesus teaches in this scripture that God is far greater than we are. The Lord teaches that we can rely on God to give us only what is good for us. God is good and only good.
God Knows Best
Jesus is speaking about our prayer life. When we ask for things from God, he will answer in a way that will best prepare us to live life according to his will. Our heavenly Father will not give us anything that will harm us or take us off the path to heaven. We don’t always get what we want because God knows what is best for us. Jesus encourages us to know that no matter what we ask, God will answer in a way that supports us.
A child may ask for candy and yet, they have already had too much sugar. To protect their health, though we want to give good things, we may not give them what they want. God knows better than we what is good for us spiritually. Asking God for good gifts opens the door for developing patience, wisdom, and a better understanding of his will. Beyond that, it builds our relationship with him as we rely on the Lord to lead us in his way.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for your holy word and for salvation in Jesus Christ. Give me strength and wisdom to follow your will. In Jesus’ Name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: I Stand at the Door and Knock
