Carpe Diem

Ask, Seek, Knock
This is the sub-title listed in the NIV translation above Matthew 7.7-12, which reads,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

I think this is Jesus' way of saying seize the day, but maybe even more specifically, Jesus is telling us to be a pro-active people or a pro-active person. Taking the initiative demands a certain willingness to take on risk. Jesus realizes this and the fear that will accompany facing any risk and so after encouraging His followers to take the initiative, He follows it up with the promise of success.

Jesus says that God is better than even the best of earthly fathers. Notice how even in our relationships with others, as Jesus states what is commonly known as the golden rule, we are instructed to take the initiative in a pro-active role rather than being passive in a reactive role.