Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Today’s Scripture:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20).
Today’s Observation:
Hopefully you have been following our basic devotional thoughts on the book of Revelation to this point. We have discovered that our God wants nothing for us more than to have eternal life. This is a win-win situation! God also would love nothing more for Himself than for us to be with Him forever. This is a classic two sides of the same coin scenario. We can have eternal life; He can have our eternal companionship. In all that we have gently unpacked thus far, we see that God will stop at nothing to reveal the keys of overcoming self, sin, and the enemy. He knows our works; He knows our weaknesses; He knows our struggles; He knows our needs; and He has the power to give us victory if we submit ourselves to Him.
Amidst the counsel our God gives to the last of the seven churches, we find a gem, which I thought it necessary we isolate from the rest of the counsel there. Jesus is pictured as standing on the outside of a door knocking. As He stands knocking, He calls to the occupants in control of said door to behold. He wants to get our attention. He says behold He is standing out there and knocking. He says behold He is standing and knocking, hoping that we hear His voice and open the door, so He can come in and we can have the best meal of the day together. I do not want to overcomplicate the scene with history and linguistics; however, I will say that this is no fast food meal. This is no simple eat whatever is there type meal. He wants to come in and provide a wedding feast type meal, where everyone knows that we are special to Him. It’s a celebratory fellowship type meal. It is the type of meal that, if we partake, we will never hunger or thirst again. He wants to come inside and provide fellowship, love, cleansing, and salvation, all in one meal. But, there is just one issue: There is no handle on the outside. If there were, Jesus would not barge in anyway. He says that we should behold the fact that He is standing, waiting for us to hear His voice, and then open. He’s knocking without stopping. This is a partial picture of the scene.
What is on the other side of the door? What will He find if we are wise enough to behold, listen to His voice, open the door, and welcome Him in? The door over which we have sole control is the door into our lives, secret closets where skeletons hang, special rooms with televisions, other rooms with reading materials, rooms with our desires, and access to every place that makes us who we are. If we behold, listen to His call from outside, let Him in, and have the special meal with Him, He will gladly embrace the people we are. God will embrace our weak, sinful realities and in a miracle of grace, recreate us into saints of the Most High (blessed be His name).
Decision Time:
This message is no mere history lesson about a patient God awaiting entrance into the life of a wayward church. While there is some application there, if you are reading this devotional thought, it is a call for you to behold. It is a call for you to discern His incessant knocking, calling, and waiting. It is a call to grip your hearts and hopefully inspire you to go to the door, firmly grasp the handle, unlatch the lock, and throw open the door to all of your inadequacies, and allow the Good Shepherd to feed you heavenly manna. It is a call for all of us, whether we know Him already or are hearing His call for the very first time, to welcome the God who made us into our lives to make us holy where we have failed so miserably in the past.
You know what’s remarkable about this? With all of the planets, galaxies, and creatures in this vast universe, God is investing time, waiting outside the door of your life, awaiting an invitation. He could be doing so many other things with His time, but He wants you. He wants me. Let’s do this together on the count of three. One. Two. Three. Open the door and let Him in. You will be so glad you did.
A Prayer for Your Hearts:
Lord, please give us the courage to welcome you into our lives forever, beginning right now. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen
