Open the Door

 By: Joanne Viola

 

The Scripture before me brought the beautiful reminder of the way Jesus stands at the doors of each of our hearts, knocking and waiting to be invited into our lives.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
 if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
 I will come in to him and will dine with him, 
and he with Me.” 
(Revelation 3:20, NASB) 

This verse is often used to describe the way in which Jesus calls us to Himself. A closer look reveals it is, more so, a call to believers.

John wrote these words of Christ to the Laodiceans, who were a wealthy church but lukewarm in their relationship with Christ. They had become self-sufficient, depending on their ability and resources to take care of themselves.

But God loved them too much to leave them in their complacency. He rebuked and called to them, inviting them to get nearer to Him.

What can these words speak to us today?

• Jesus longs to be with us.
• If we but open the door to our hearts, minds, and lives, Jesus will dwell with us.
• Yes, this is an invitation to salvation, but it is a daily call to live with devotion to Christ.

There is a dual action which must occur – we must hear and be moved to action. We must both hear Jesus knocking and then, open the door of our lives to Him. To do one without the other is pointless.

It is then a relationship of acceptance and friendship can be deeply forged. The reward of this relationship and faith is to share in Christ’s victorious reign over sin, evil, and death.

“We live in sobering times. The forces of hate, polarization, and discord are mounting. Those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ can no longer live their lives as chameleons, blending in with the culture. We can no longer live with ourselves as the axis by which our world turns. The radical call of Jesus Christ means our lives must be completely transformed. We can no longer love Christ with reservation. Being a follower of Christ can no longer be a badge we wear identifying ourselves as a political group. Nor can churches function as a country club with a “members only” sign posted out front. Our work and service for Christ can no longer be more important than our love and devotion for Christ. Our faith can no longer be primarily driven by our mastery of the Scripture, our identification with an organization, or our loyalty to our leaders. We must be known for a love wrapped in mercy. In our lives, Christ must remain preeminent.”

 

(from Stages of the Soul by Nancy Kane page 120)

 

Reflection:
What defines you today? How can we become known for our “love wrapped in mercy”?

 

Photo by Nikolay Loubet on Unsplash