“So I say to
you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
This is a
verse from the Bible where Jesus tells us to perform three actions: to ask, to
seek, and to knock. Jesus goes on to explain the outcome of these actions in
the next verse:
“For everyone
who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door
will be opened.” (Luke 11:10)
My parents
were deeply involved in Christian Literature work during their lives. For
Edward David, my dad, writing, translating, and editing Christian literature
was his vocation and profession. However, my mom, Queena Celestina Komali
David, got involved primarily to support my dad with editing the Telugu
Christian Hymnal, Bible Concordance as well the revision of the Telugu Bible.
As they sat and worked together, they would naturally discuss and disagree on
certain things in each session.
During one
such session, my mom asked my father what his understanding of the verses above
was. My dad responded in a manner similar to how most of us would: he said that
these verses were about asking God for something for one’s own self. Many of us
would interpret these verses from our own perspectives as well, viewing these
as promises to fulfill personal wishes.
Mom listened
to his explanation carefully. She then spoke, providing her own understanding
of these verses as follows:
“Ask for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit on you;
Seek God’s
Kingdom and His righteousness first in your life
Seek for the
lost souls;
Knock at the
closed hearts of the people.”
What a
beautiful interpretation! I unfortunately did not witness this incident, but
dad narrated this to us a few months after Mom passed on to eternal life in
1994.
Therefore,
this Christmas do remember the words of the Lord and may the prayer of Queena
Celestina David inspire you to ask for God’s blessing, seek beyond yourself and
knock on greater challenges.
Happy
Christmas.
Emmanuel
David Christmas 2021
