Asking, Seeking, Knocking...

Matthew 7:1-12

It's really cold. Really. Cold. I walked out all happy and confident, ready to conquer the world. Then, I felt a snow flake land on my head. Oh, heck no. Ran straight back into my apartment and grabbed a beanie to at least cover my ears. That's one thing I've learned while here in the Midwest. Protect your ears and you'll be fine. I still had 3 layers of clothing and some long underwear. I know you Midwesterners are laughing. I saw a couple crazy kids walking in shorts. Like really? Are you serious? Whatever, it'll take me a while to get used to being cold again. But if some of you see me on campus and I have this big frown on my face, I just came back from 70 degree sunshine, so you know why.

I only really had two classes today but they were both really tough to get through. Not because I was tired or cause I had a tough time paying attention, but because I was honestly worried. The first was Chinese 202, in which by this time, most of the students who have struggled with the language have dropped. We had I think about 4 classes of 40+ students in Chinese 101. It's now shrunk down to about 40 students total. Thus, we now have the best of best students combined in one class with a teacher that's speaking in a foreign language (literally). Fun times ahead...

To add to that I have Senior Design class. Now at first I was excited about this class because it's what every engineering student looks forward to. However, after class today I felt......dumb. The professor was explaining concepts I had no idea about. I felt like just walking out of class. Yea, that bad. Anyways I asked around to see what the others thought about it. Fortunately, most of them were on the same boat, but still a good handful of them knew what was going on (that or they just wanted me to feel stupid; which is very possible by the way because engineers are just like that). That got me worried. Really worried. Pray for me... I'm going to post what my actual project is tomorrow after I clarify a couple things with the professor because I don't think I'm understanding it clearly.

I really need to suck it up though. Here I am claiming I believe in God, and I'm worried. I have to keep telling myself this and just do it (yea Hsieh, I heard ya).

To Judge Or Not To Judge...
The passages covered today were about two different concepts, but both equally important. The first was about criticizing others. This I think is the biggest problem people at church like to point out. People in most churches I believe hate the fact that they come in feeling like they are being judged. It's even worse in Asian churches because Asian communities just love comparing people. It's like we thrive on other people's shortcomings. But I think we're missing the point. We're all at church because we're weak. We're sinners and we have problems.

What's so true about this passage is the latter part of it. The part where it talks about how we should not use a measurement to judge people because that's the measurement that will be used on us. And that we should not point out mistakes when we make mistakes ourselves. This is one of the biggest problems that churches face. So many of the nonbelievers use this as a reason for why Christianity is a turn-off for them. Christians like to differentiate themselves almost to a point where they're hanging out by themselves because the others are just not "holy" enough. Now I'm not saying that that's the intent with every fellowship and that all the churches follow this, but many times that's what it may seem to people outside. I'm guilty of it myself.

This is always a tough one, and I'm going to have to make sure I get better at it myself.

Asking, Seeking, Knocking...
The second topic is just as my title suggest. Jesus teaches us, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." While this is very simple and clear, I don't know why I struggle with it. I find myself not being able to do this on a daily basis. Why is this? It may be that I'm still struggling with my faith and I'm just weak. God clearly states that He will provide if we ask for it. Yet, I find myself struggling to be comfortable with only that. This is another thing that I need to work on.

Summary:

Jesus Teaches About Criticizing Others
1-2 Jesus describes how we should not judge others because then we too will be judged. We should also not judge by a measurement because that same measurement will be used on us.
3-6 Do not look to point to someone's mistakes when you make mistakes yourself. Do not give these sinners anything pure that they will simply trample on.

Jesus Teaches About Asking, Seeking, Knocking
7-8 Jesus explains how God will always provide for us. He says, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."
9-12 As even the evil would give their children the good gifts. God will provide even greater for all of us as we are His children.