Lent already?

Well, well. Lent again. I don't think this year I'll be committing to reading and posting everyday. But, I am going to try to continue at least a few times a week. That should be doable.

Matthew 7

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus is making promises, or just stating the obvious. Like in the beatitudes, "blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted". Really, no one else needs to be comforted, except those who mourn. Or like in Matthew 7:7-12. Knock and the door will be opened. Is that a promise, or just an observation? The one who seeks, finds. The one who asks is given.

It seems that in the overall context, Jesus is doing more than sharing His observations, yet I don't think they are necessarily promises either. I want them to be. I want to ask and have my desires fulfilled. It never happens that way.

So are they not promises simply because it doesn't work that way for me? Maybe they are supposed to be taken that way, but there's some sort of break down, like I'm not faithful enough or something. I wouldn't claim to be a charismatic type. I've never healed anyone, spoken in tongues, had a word of prophecy, etc. But I can't dismiss those things just because I haven't experienced them. I know too many people who have, I've witnessed them first hand, and I've had some occur for my own benefit. The words of scripture are always interpreted through our own experiences.

The fear, I think, for me is that these are supposed to be promises, but somehow God isn't able to deliver. These words would be worse than meaningless if that were the case. I don't think that's the case. It doesn't have to be a promise to be true. The one who seeks, finds. It's not a promise, but it is true. Don't expect to find anything if you don't look, but there's not necessarily a guarantee attached to it.