A Daily Devotion for Monday, May 18
Matthew 7:7-12
“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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your 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 remember my mother repeating the “Golden Rule” to me, many, many times in my childhood. In fact, when I think about it, it seems she said it a lot. It makes me wonder what I was saying and doing that prompted the repeated reminder! In today’s scripture, Jesus reminds us that God sees us as his children, and makes sure we have what we need. Because we have this perfect example of love, and because we know how we wish to be treated, we should know how to treat others. It can’t hurt to teach the “Golden Rule” to adults….
Holy Father, you give me all that I need, and have made the ultimate sacrifice for me, already. I do not deserve such love, but you give it. May I love all of your creation in the same way, treating each and everyone with the same love you have shown to me. Amen
Becky, transforming
Monday, May 18th, 2026
A parent’s Love
Focus, People involved in difficult legal proceedings
Today’s Reading : Matthew 7:7-12
Matthew 7:9
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Matthew 7:9 is so reassuring . It is a guarantee. If we belong to Christ, we have a Father who knows our needs better than we do, answers our requests with perfect goodness, and never mistakes stones for bread. That settled certainty frees us to live prayful and worry free as long as we put it in God’s trusting hands. Jesus understnds common sense: even flawed human fathers know the difference between meeting a real need not just ridicule. let’s remember …
Today’s Upper Room story about a parent’s love resonated with me. Long ago, as a high school junior I overheard my parents having a conversation about finances. I overheard my mom say, …”I don’t care, I will scrub floors to make sure the kids can go to college”. That was a life-changing moment for me. No stone or serpent for me or my brother, just pure love and a willingness to sacrifice. A while later in Navy recruiter visited our high school. I decided to join and under the G.I. Bill was able to go to college. Mom‘s prayers were answered (but certainly not how she expected). It wasn’t until 13 years later, with the birth of my first child…
Matthew 7:7-12 A Parent's Love
I was an only child and I have always understood the sacrifices my parents made for my benefit. I was the only one of dozens of cousins in our extended family preparing to go to college. It was a huge milestone for our whole family. My parents always said they would make it work. I never herd of their fears about cost and distance. And make it work they did. My Mom ran an elementary school kitchen and my Dad worked two jobs for the town we lived in. When I think of them today it is with such love and pride. They taught me so mich about life just by the way they lived.