Justin Tucker, Worship Pastor LHBC
Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
“Your presence is an open door, so come now, Lord, like never before.”
There was once a young man that went to call on a young lady. He did like all young men should do and he opened the truck door for her, she got in scooted all the way over next to him in the cab and he would throw an arm around her and pull her in close. Of course, this was years ago when trucks had just a bench seat in them. They continued to date and each time he came to pick her up he would open the door and she would scoot right up beside him and you guessed it…he’d throw an arm around her and pull her in close. Eventually that young couple got married and raised a family together. One day, after their children had grown up and had families of their own, that once young couple went out to dinner. Like all the years before he opened her door for her and helped her in. He climbed behind the steering wheel and off they went. Just a few miles down the road that sweet wife looked over at her husband and asked him, “How come you don’t hold me close when we go out anymore, like you used to.” Lovingly, the husband looked at his wife with great big tears in his eyes and said, “Honey, I’ve never moved.”
Why is it that sometimes we just don’t feel God’s presence? I mean, if His presence is an open door, why does it sometimes feel like that door has been slammed shut? There are plenty of reasons why God’s presence can feel so far away but I can assure you, it’s not because He has been the one that has pulled away from us. It’s because we, the bride, have scooted away from our groom, Jesus.
Most of the time, I don’t believe that the disconnect is intentional…if anything, it’s from a lack of intentionality. The kids need a bath, supper isn’t done, the baby is crying, the trash needs to be taken out, and the dog just messed the floor… or is this only at our house? Life happens, we get busy and that’s no excuse but it does happen to be a reality for so many of us. If we don’t intentionally set aside time to spend with God in prayer, personal worship, and in His Word we will ultimately find ourselves looking out the passenger side window on the opposite end of a bench seat disconnected from Jesus.
The good news is you’re here. You are reading this right now and that means that you are doing something about the disconnect. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. It’s a constant pursuit.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, Help me to be intentional in the pursuit of my relationship with You. Place in my heart a fire to keep asking what Your plans for my life are, to keep seeking Your will and way, and to keep knocking and returning to You every day. Thank you for being constant and never changing. Thank you for always being there no matter how far away from you I slide. In Jesus name, amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever