How Much More

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matt 7:7-11 (NKJV)

Jesus' logic breaks it down like this: If you had a good father who loved you and looked out for your best interests while raising you, how much more can you expect from the God who is love personified? While not claiming to be either the perfect parent or the best father in the world, I do claim to have significant love for my children. Which means, that I put the needs of my children before my own on a number of occasions. Come to think of it--while they were still at home my world pretty much revolved around theirs.

Back in the day when I attended high school, I discovered my Dad's University of Texas ring. Out of the blue my Dad asked me if I wanted to wear it. (He never wore any jewelry except his wedding ring) So, I proudly wore that ring as a part of my Texas birthright. I went on a school trip that took me from Idaho Falls to Boise, where a regional drill team contest was taking place. The Skyline High School Teddy-Bears were competing and the Pep Band was playing. (We had a great time!) On the way home we stopped at the Red Lion Hotel to eat. I washed my hands...and I took the ring off...and never put it back on. I realized, 100 miles later on the bus ride home, that I did not have the ring on. When I arrived home, at about 5:00 in the morning--I called the Red Lion, but they could not locate the ring.

I needed to tell my Dad. Would he be angry? Would he think less of me for my failure and lack of responsibility? After breakfast I pulled my Dad aside to confess. "Dad, you know the University of Texas ring...I...I lost it." I continued to pour out my heart and when I was done Dad looked me in the eye and said, "Son, I am really sorry that you lost the ring--I know how much you liked it." Talk about being on the receiving end of grace! When I think of the love and the grace that my earthly father measured out to me so generously, I get a picture of my Heavenly Father. How much more can I expect from the architect of all that is good?

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, keeper of my soul and the lifter of my head, thank you for Your love. As high as the heavens above, so great is the measure of Your love. I place my life in Your hands knowing that You love me more than I love myself. When I fall, You pick up the pieces. When I fail, You encourage me to try again. When I am slow to learn, You teach me with patience. Everyday I experience the "How much more" of Your Agape. Blessed be Your name! Amen"