I will tell you an example from my life. It is your birthday, and as your friend I have decided to congratulate you and give you a present. While thinking about what to give you, I decide that the greatest and best thing I possess is myself. I make a plan, anticipate your surprise, rejoice over it in my heart, feel excited, and come to you in order to present it all. Words of congratulations, my wishes, and words of blessing are spoken, and then I say, “And now the gift!” Seeing my empty hands, you wait in surprise to discover what it will be. Then I say: “I give you myself. I give you eight hours of my life and my abilities, which you may use at your own discretion during the year until your next birthday, within the bounds of decency and God’s law.” And I watch you. I am very interested to learn how you will receive it, whether you will be concerned, and how you will decide to use this gift. I give you time to think and return home.
From my experience, I can say that I remained unneeded throughout the entire year, although I knew very well how I could serve these people, because they were involved in a building project and were paying me for my services. Throughout the year, I reminded them of my gift and waited.
What would you do with me, my friend, if I gave you such a gift? Whatever you may answer, I know for certain that when you personally hear such words, the reality of carrying them out will differ from what you are planning now. A living person stands before you, ready to devote part of his life to you. You need only decide and ask me to fulfill what I promised—what I have already given.
Now let us imagine Another Person—our dear Heavenly Friend Jesus. He loved me when I was still a sinner and did not know Him. For my sake He came into this world, died in my place for my sins, rose again, and became available to me at any time. He gave me a great many promises that He is always ready to fulfill, waiting for me to learn about them and begin asking. And the greatest gift He possesses for me on the day of my spiritual birth is Himself. He gives me not eight hours of His life and services, but all His time and all of Himself for all Eternity. Jesus does not hide from me by turning off His phone. He stands at the door of my heart and knocks, calls, and tenderly reminds me of Himself.
Jesus waits and watches me attentively. He anticipates the joy of an opened door and my desire to have Him. He promises to feed me with something delicious and beneficial. Together with Himself, He offers to give me all His authority and the wisdom to use it.
What does He hear in response? “Oh, how wonderful! How pleasant it is to know this! It is like a life preserver in case of disaster.” Is that all? Is this how I answer God’s promises? What more can He offer me?
Jesus understood that in our lives we would encounter many difficulties and focus our attention upon them so completely that we would forget all God’s promises of help and blessing. Understanding all this, He taught us to seek and find, to ask and receive, and to knock so that the door would be opened to us. This account contains hope of receiving the fullness of love. It is not hidden behind seven seals. It exists and waits to be claimed. Love has already been promised to everyone; it need only be taken.
The question is, “How?” Ask, and it shall be given you. What will be given is a true, Heavenly, Eternal treasure. Love has been promised, commanded, and offered from all God’s heart. God Himself is embodied in it in all His fullness and beauty.
I am being watched in order to understand what I will do with this Gift.
What prevents me from asking God to fulfill His promise? My modesty, my unbelief, or my indifference?
Time will tell.
But many of God’s promises are conditional because they are limited by a particular period established by the Giver. He calls this the time of grace, and it will one day end for many of His friends. The validity of the promise will expire, the doors will close forever, and the righteous will continue to practice righteousness on one side of the door while all other people remain outside.
What should I do? “Ask, and it shall be given you” is also a promise of Jesus that gives hope and opens many prospects for growth.
I will return to my experience. When I gave myself, I assumed that my abilities in construction and repair would most likely be needed. But somewhere deep within my soul, I understood that I possessed something more valuable and precious than the ability to work. A hope glowed within my heart that this very thing would be desired. Yet our expectations and dreams are not always fulfilled.
What does God expect from us when He offers Himself?
Love waits for its new possessor. It has given itself for perpetual use. It is very interested to know whether it will be needed and, if so, for what purpose.
Please read Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7–11; Luke 11:5–10; and 1 John 3:23 in the light of this lesson. What did you understand from this lesson? Do you believe that you will certainly receive love if you begin asking God for it? Do you think God will give us what He desires to see within us? Do you expect that you will begin to feel the appearance and manifestation of love within your heart? Why must we ask for it? Why does the Lord not give it freely to everyone without a request? Are there any special prayers for love, or may we ask for it in our own words?