May 20, 2020
A Triple Exhortation of Hope

by Pastor Claudia Lopez, Centro Familiar

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
In these difficult times this word is a reality. It is a call to be active since we have a God who is present and alive in every moment. It is a special moment where the miracles and the power of God are moving in everyone who believes. Now is your time and moment to experience the power of God through this world crisis. I pray you will feel the real presence of God guarding your life and leading you to live in his mercy.

In this verse our Lord Jesus returns to the subject of prayer with three imperatives of the present time that express repeated and continuous action. The verbs “Ask ... seek ... knock”, suggest perseverance and frequent prayer, while the verbs “receive ... find ... will open,” give us the idea of security through obtaining our answer. This does not mean that we will receive exactly what we ask for, since God is sovereign in his decisions and knows what is best for us. As Paul wrote, “And in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. The Spirit intercedes for us with unspeakable groans ... And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good.” (Romans 8: 26-28).

This time of social distancing helps us to improve our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as it leads us to walk hand in hand through this valley of the shadow of death. Now and here is when our Christianity becomes real because we no longer gather within the walls of the temple - now it is my true self and my personal relationship with God that are revealed. I have to experience its power through this triple hope, in Matthew 7: 7: I ask and I will receive, I seek and I will find, I ask and it will be given to me.

Let us not forget God is active and our prayer is to see and experience those miracles.
Lord, we recognize that you are our savior and Lord and that you are in control of our lives. We thank you for calling us and being part of you. Forgive our disbelief and lack of action. Do not take into account our sin that paralyzes us and turns us away from your will. Take our hearts and minds so that the reality of your word which is alive and effective moves us in the right direction. We pray that you make us to be active with our lives, blessing others and experiencing day by day your power and your Glory. May our relationship with you be so special that prayer is a continuous act for us like breathing. Amen.
Alpharetta Presbyterian Church
180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009
770-751-0033 www.alpharettapres.com