Persistent prayer
Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Matthew 7:7-11 "If you then, who are 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!" ( v. 11 ). Dr. Sinclair Ferguson says, "Knowing God as judge has a sanctifying and restraining effect on our lives" (The Sermon on the Mount, p. 150). In other words, reflecting on God's perfect holiness drives us to recognize our own sin and deal with it before we judge others ( Matt. 7:1-5 ). We begin to see who we are - depraved men and women who cannot merit the Lord's forgiveness. This helps us to be merciful. If our Father in His infinite goodness can pardon us, surely we sinners can forgive others. However, we still often find it hard to show mercy even when we know the Lord's character. We still need wisdom to distinguish between those who will mock the Gospel and those who will not trample upon the good news ( v. 6 ). Moreover,...