At first glance “Ask and it shall be given you” has huge appeal. If we are not careful we can think that God is like a genie in a lamp who is ready to grant us not three, but all the wishes we want. Some Christians have taken this to mean that we have a “name it and claim it” ability to get whatever we want from God.
Verse 11 lets us know that it is not quite that simple. Jesus here appeals to our reasoning as parents. “You know how to give good things to your children.” We are not perfect parents, and still we know what to give our children. When they are asking and asking we basically know what is good and what is not good for them. If a three year old what to play with a knife and starts crying for it, we still are not going to give them what they want because it is not good for them, we would not be loving to give them everything they ask for.
When it comes to prayer we can be assured that God, Who is perfect, always knows what is good for us. When we ask we can be assured that He will answer according to what is good for us. We want our children to trust us to do what is best for them. Are we willing to do the same for God?
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