- In Matthew 7:7-12 , Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing and trusting God. We were told to ask through prayers, seek through the gospel, and knock. By doing these, we will receive blessings, find the Word, and enter through the doors of opportunities that would be opened by God. We sometimes give up easily after praying once or twice to God. Additionally, we sometimes use prayer as the last resort for our problems. Instead of relying for ourselves and other humans, let's seek God first and present to Him our heart's desires. With all our resources exhausted, we tend to go to God when nothing else can be done. We need to keep trusting in God for he will provide and bless us not in your time, but in His time. If you think that God did not answer your prayers, keep praying, keep asking, keep seeking, and keep believing. God might have a better plan for you as stated in Jeremiah 29:11;
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
If you have been praying for a week already, pray for 10 more weeks. If you have been praying for a year, pray for 10 more. Don't give up in your efforts to seek God. Continue to ask him for more knowledge, wisdom, patience, love, blessings, forgiveness, and understanding. God hears our prayers, but sometimes, He does not answer it because He has a better plan for you. And this plan will be shown to you in His time so we can glorify Him with all the blessings and the grace that we received from Him. Knowing God takes effort, and Jesus assured us that if we persist, our efforts will be rewarded. Ask God and He will answer you.
II. God's Mercy Towards Sinners
-In Romans 5:6-11, Paul reminded us of God's love and mercy towards us, sinners of this world. Will you give your enemies or someone that you do not like $500 right now. How about $50, $25, even $5 or a dollar? If you answered "No", then I really don't have to ask you if you will sacrifice your children or die for him/her right? But this is what God did. Even though we were unrighteous and did not deserve the love and mercy of God, he still sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die for us and our sins. Jesus was born, Jesus died on the cross, and Jesus resurrected. Instead of punishing us (because we all deserved to be punished) with the death that we deserved, Jesus paid the price with his own death, while we were sinners. He died for us while we were still God's enemies. Now, the doors are opened for a relationship with God through faith with Jesus Christ. We are now God's people, His friends, and His children. Let us open our hearts and let Him in our life. Let us accept our savior, repent our sins, and receive the gift of salvation.
III. Proverbs for Today/3:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
IV. Old Testament Reading
Genesis 30, Genesis 31:1-16, and Psalms 12:1-8
Prayer: Father God, we thank you once again for being the God Almighty, who has given us His love and mercy, and even though we were sinners and we deserved to be punished, you sent your only begotten Son to die in the cross for us and take away all our sins. Father God, we lift to you all our prayers, because you told us that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; and if we knock; you will open the door for us. Heavenly Father, we ask for more knowledge, wisdom, patience, love, and understanding. We know God, that you have a better plan for us, and you will bless us in your time because your plan is better than ours so we trust in you, we love you, we praise, you, and we glorify you, in Jesus' name. Amen.
II. God's Mercy Towards Sinners
-In Romans 5:6-11, Paul reminded us of God's love and mercy towards us, sinners of this world. Will you give your enemies or someone that you do not like $500 right now. How about $50, $25, even $5 or a dollar? If you answered "No", then I really don't have to ask you if you will sacrifice your children or die for him/her right? But this is what God did. Even though we were unrighteous and did not deserve the love and mercy of God, he still sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die for us and our sins. Jesus was born, Jesus died on the cross, and Jesus resurrected. Instead of punishing us (because we all deserved to be punished) with the death that we deserved, Jesus paid the price with his own death, while we were sinners. He died for us while we were still God's enemies. Now, the doors are opened for a relationship with God through faith with Jesus Christ. We are now God's people, His friends, and His children. Let us open our hearts and let Him in our life. Let us accept our savior, repent our sins, and receive the gift of salvation.
III. Proverbs for Today/3:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
IV. Old Testament Reading
Genesis 30, Genesis 31:1-16, and Psalms 12:1-8
Prayer: Father God, we thank you once again for being the God Almighty, who has given us His love and mercy, and even though we were sinners and we deserved to be punished, you sent your only begotten Son to die in the cross for us and take away all our sins. Father God, we lift to you all our prayers, because you told us that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; and if we knock; you will open the door for us. Heavenly Father, we ask for more knowledge, wisdom, patience, love, and understanding. We know God, that you have a better plan for us, and you will bless us in your time because your plan is better than ours so we trust in you, we love you, we praise, you, and we glorify you, in Jesus' name. Amen.
