Asking

 

Judging Others

7‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ²For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. ³Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s^* eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? ⁴Or how can you say to your neighbor,^* “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s^* eye.

Profaning the Holy

6 ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

Ask, Search, Knock

7 ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? ¹⁰Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? ¹¹If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

12 ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Mathew 7:1-12

We have been in Montana this week making preliminary arrangements for my upcoming work here. It is very hopeful and exciting. There also still lots up in the air. It is so easy for me to give into the anxiety and worry about what's next. I often forget that I do not have to rely on myself alone and that simply asking, knocking, seeking, begins a process of open doors and more possibilities. I often try to figure everything out, even when I know I need to rely on others and trust God. Our frail humanity often waits until all else fails before we ask the Divine for everything.

Jesus continues his teaching to the crowd. He talks f setting judgment aside, working on our own personal sins and flaws, when trusting God in everything, moment by moment. It is easier said than done. We are invited by God today to turn over the burdens we have been carrying for so long, and to trust that God will open doors, finding a way forward and blessing us each step of the way.

Today I ask God to help me ask for the help I need and refrain from picking up the burdens again. May we trust God for our every need, knowing that there are more answers and more blessings than we can ever imagine.