Seeking God | Robert & Kay Camenisch

Why Knock?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matt. 7:9)

This reassuring verse encourages us to give our needs and cares to the Lord, trusting Him to provide for us. However, it’s familiar enough that, even as we gain reassurance that our God cares for us and will answer our requests, we tend to read it without much thought.

A closer look reveals that in this well-known verse, Jesus gave us the key to abundant life.

As we move from asking to knocking, the verbs become more focused, more intentional, and more intimate.

Asking is the more casual of the three. Asking is a request in passing. We desire something so we ask.

Many verses in the Bible speak on asking. We’re told in Matthew 21:22 that if we believe, we will receive whatever things we ask in prayer.

A balancing truth is found in James 4:3, where we learn that we sometimes don’t receive because we ask amiss, that we “may spend it on our own pleasures.”

Seeking is more purposeful and focused. It’s more intentional and implies an ongoing search. It usually involves a more important, valuable, or more needful pursuit.

Jesus told a crowd who was following Him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (Jn. 6:26-27)

Jesus’ words reveal that we also sometimes seek with the self-centered motives, but seeking is more than asking. Seeking involves effort, or laboring, and we should seek things that have eternal value rather than focusing on temporal desires.

We are to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33), and “things which are above, where Christ is” (Col. 3:1). Furthermore, if we seek the Lord, we will “not lack any good thing” (Ps. 34:10).

Seeking involves a life-focus that determines our goals and direction in life. Scripture encourages us to seek the Lord, His kingdom and His righteousness.

Knocking implies seeking a person and has the potential of fellowship, even intimacy. We knock with an expectation of greeting someone, of being invited in, and often with the hope of fellowship.

Knocking is also mentioned in Revelation 3:20-21 where Jesus knocks on our door to dine with us. He knocks for the purpose of intimate fellowship. And more. He desires that we sit with him on the throne, reigning with Him as He sits with His Father!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:20-22).

Knocking is a picture of us desiring, and making time (priority) for fellowship, for pursuing an intimate relationship with Jesus.

In Jesus’ final minutes with His disciples He prayed to His Father. In the prayer, He painted a picture of being so close, so intimate, that we will be one with Him and perfect in Him–even as He is one with His Father. He wants to be so close with Him that we will behold his glory and will be confident in His love (Jn. 17:20-26).

If we ask, we will receive–if we aren’t asking for our pleasures. If we seek, we will find–especially if we are seeking eternal things. If we knock, we can know our Lord intimately and will be one with Him.

God desires the intimate fellowship of friends sharing life across the table. He wants to be best friends with you and with me. He’s standing at the door knocking—even before we knock.

Are you content with an asking relationship, or are you available to be an intimate friend?

Will you open the door to when Jesus knocks? Indeed, will you reach out and knock on His door to gain true, abundant life of intimate fellowship?

“I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me” (Prov. 8:17). “You who seek God, your hearts shall live” (Ps. 69:32).

It belonged in the closet, just above eye level, but it wasn’t there. I looked under all around but didn’t see it. I looked above and below its customary spot, but couldn’t find it. My search was in vain.

Not long afterward, Robert asked me if, during my search, I saw something that he needed.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied, but added, “But I wasn’t looking for it, so it may have been there, and I looked right over it.”

The item he needed was in the closet. In fact, it was clearly visable, but I hadn’t seen it because I wasn’t looking for it.

I recalled that scenario a couple of days later when I read John 1:35-40. John the Baptist was talking with a couple of his disciples, Andrew and John, when he saw Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Andrew and John left John the Baptist and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned to them and asked, “What do you seek?’ He could have said, “What do you want?” Why did He ask what they were looking for, rather than just greeting them?

My closet search taught me that if we aren’t looking for something, we are likely not to see it, even if it’s right in front of us. If that is so, shy did Jesus ask that question, and what were Andrew and John looking for?

They were looking for the Lamb of God. But, if that’s the case, their response to Jesus’ question is rather strange. Rather than answer what they were looking for, they asked Him a question, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

“Where are you staying?” Were they really looking for where Jesus was staying?

Yes. And no. It probably didn’t matter where Jesus was staying. Their question was probably a way of saying, “There are a lot of people around here. Where can we visit without interruption? We’d like to get to know you better. Can we go to your place?”

Their question reveals hearts that were looking for the Messiah, the Anointed One. Knowing about Him was not enough. They wanted to spend time with Him, to get to know Him.

As I read those verses, God asked me, “What are you looking for?”

I want to follow Jesus. Furthermore, for basically all my life, I’ve heard that we are to love God with our whole hearts (Matt. 22:37-38) and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). I know that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; and if we knock, it will be opened (Matt. 7:7-8).

Consequently, if asked if I am seeking Him, my immediate answer is, “Yes,”—and I mean it. But, when I read this, I realized that I’m not always asking, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

“Can I come to Your place to get to know You better?”

Recently, I’ve been convicted about this same question—though asked in a different way. In response, I’ve set aside more time and been more purposeful in my effort to seek God and know Him better.

However, when my schedule presses in, I’m distracted by my to-do list and am tempted to cut my time short. During those times, it’s easy to read the Word while thinking about something else, or to shorten prayer time or get sidetracked.

Am I asking, “Where are you staying?” or is it more like, “Can I go now? Have I done enough?”–as if I’m checking a duty off my list.

Ouch. During our time with the Lord, the degree which we allow ourselves to wander (in mind or body) from fellowship with Him is an indication of the degree in which we’re truly seeking Him.

Like my search in the closet, we tend to find the thing we’re looking for. If we’re asking and not receiving, it may be because we’re asking for one thing while seeking another.

Jesus’ question is relevant for me today as much as it was when He began His ministry. After all, He’s still looking for disciples, for people who will follow Him and will fellowship with Him.

The Lord wants to fellowship with us and desires intimacy. He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). We are the ones with other priorities in life.

The invitation is sent and the table is set, but the question remains, “What are you seeking?”

Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships

Why Knock?

What Are You Seeking?