Revelation 3:20 - A Relationship With Jesus.
Revelation 3:20 - A Relationship With Jesus.
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and
dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20 (CWB) I am standing at your hearts door,
knocking. Anyone who hears my voice and opens the door will be glad, for
I will come in and eat with him and he with me.
Revelation 3:20 (TLB) "Look! I have been standing at the door,
and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and
opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with
me.
INTRODUCTION
Here in Rev 3:20 we have one of the most famous pictures of
Jesus in the whole New Testament. [Barclay Commentary]
Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts every time we sense
we should turn to him. Jesus wants to have fellowship with us, and
he wants us to open up to him. He is patient and persistent in
trying to get through to us--not breaking and entering, but knocking.
He allows us to decide whether or not to open our lives to him.
[Life Application SB]
It happens every day, in every culture, and in every city,
town, and village. To establish or deepen relationships, we humans sit
down and eat together. The habit is in our genes.
Go into any restaurant at lunchtime or dinnertime or visit
any sidewalk cafe and quietly observe. You are sure to see business
being transacted over a meal, or it could be a reunion of friends from
way back Look around, and you will certainly see several couples,
some at the earliest stages of getting to know each other, others
perhaps embarrassingly giddy in love (maybe even on their honeymoon),
and yet other older couples celebrating life together. Perhaps you
will see a family enjoying eating out, or several tables pulled
together for a party - for a birthday or maybe a retirement. It is human
nature to eat together.
Important relationships may progress to the point of inviting
someone into your home for a meal. First you set a time and date. You
carefully plan the menu, shop for ingredients, and start preparations well
ahead, making sure that the setting is right - lighting, music,
flowers, the best china, crystal, polished silver, and freshly laundered
linen. And the food - everything done to perfection, ready at the same
time so that you can sit down to eat together. In spite of all the
preparation and attention to detail, it's not about the meal - it is all
about the relationship. Hearts knit together over food and drink. It
is what we do.
So when the one and only Creator-God, Sovereign of the
universe, Lord of lords and King of kings, walks up to my door and knocks,
waits patiently, and knocks again, and waits again maybe I'm not
home. Oh, I am home, all right. This is the door to my heart, my mind.
I am always home. He knows that. So He calls to me. He isn't a
bill collector or a loan shark, but a Father longing for a
relationship with me. Hear the cry in His voice: "If anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and
they with me." It isn't about the meal, mind you - it's about the
relationship.
Lord, please come in. Let's eat. But more important, let's
talk. [God of Wonders by David Steen]
COMMENTARY
In John's prophetic vision [of the Laodicean church], Jesus
has strong words of correction for a lukewarm church. He tells these
believers to turn from their indifference and then gives them a profound
invitation: Open the door and let Him in. If they hear His voice and
respond, He will come into their fellowship and interact with them as
friends having a meal together.
This verse is often used in the context of salvation, but
that isn't its primary purpose. Jesus is speaking to a church that
has shut Him out of their community, especially during the Lord's
Supper, which is meant to be an intimate meal commemorating His
sacrifice and celebrating His presence and purpose in their lives. If this
fellowship of believers would open their ears and invite Him to join them,
He would come powerfully into their midst. He is speaking to them
primarily about relationship.
Meals, especially in cultures like those of the Middle East,
are an occasion for developing deep friendships and lasting bonds.
They aren't just about nutrition; they are about closeness. This is
what Jesus promises His people, but only if we hear His voice and
open the door. We have to accept His invitation and welcome Him in.
Our primary motive for hearing His voice is intimacy with Him. Only
then are we drawn into the kind of relationship where His will is
discovered and His secrets are made known. He shares His heart with those
who have opened the doors of theirs.
Above all else in this life, accept this invitation. Don't
view it as a one-time acceptance of salvation. See it as an ongoing
meal between close friends. Let Him lean over the table of your heart
and tell you what's on His mind. There's no greater blessing than
this.
Jesus, the door of my heart is wide open. Come on in. Sit
with me, eat with me, talk to me. Let me be one of Your closest
friends. [The One Year Hearing His Voice Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
Jesus stands at the door and knocks. That's a great image to
use in an evangelistic presentation - and it's undoubtedly true -
but that's not the context of the verse. No, the words of Jesus to
the church at Laodicea appeal to the congregation to stop shutting
Him out. They have been indifferent to Him, and their lukewarmness
is nauseating to God. They have been having their feasts,
specifically the Lord's Supper, without His Presence. They are a church going
through the motions but not filled and empowered with the Presence of
the living Lord. This "body of Christ" is behaving as though it is
lifeless.
That can easily happen to our congregations too. We go
through the motions and "do church" by habit rather than by the Living
One spontaneously moving in and through us. We have programs and
policies that take on a life of their own, slowly marginalizing the Jesus
who birthed the church to begin with. If we aren't careful, the
church becomes an impersonal organization rather than a living
organism.
Guard your fellowship zealously - not to keep it in its
patterns and habits but to keep it responsive to each breath of the
Spirit. The picture of Jesus standing outside of His own church is
tragic. Not only does that disappoint Him, it leaves His people without
their source of life. Any fellowship that isn't experiencing
supernatural fruit is missing Jesus. Without the Presence, it's nothing more
than a club or committee. With Him, it's a living temple of God
Himself.
Jesus, I open the door to You and invite You into the
fellowship of those I worship with. We need You. Without Your Presence, we
have no reason to exist. Please enter in, eat with us, and let us
enjoy Your friendship and life. [The One Year Experiencing Gods
Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
If we want God to speak to us about his plans for our lives,
we have to give him our undivided attention. He won't shout over
the noise of the Internet, the television, our work, or our worries.
We need unhurried time away from all of that so that we can
listen.
Consider scheduling an uninterrupted morning for God. Get
away from distractions. Turn off your phone. Ask God to help you
screen out other voices - like your inner critic - that can compete for
your attention. Use these precious hours to rest in God's presence,
pour out your heart, and listen to his heart through his Word.
It may feel like you're far too busy to plan a block of time
with God, but when else will you find the encouragement and guidance
you need from the one who knows and loves you best?
God is longing to spend time with you to build you up,
rejuvenate your soul, and show his wonders. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day
Devotional from Job 37:14]
ILLUSTRATION
Donna was a pediatric nurse who worked in one of the
children's wards in a large hospital. She loved her work, and she adored
the children she treated every day. They added such life and delight
to her days, and she thrilled at seeing them get well and go home.
As the children's nurse, she often had to use her stethoscope
to listen to their lungs and hearts. So that the kids would not
feel frightened by the stethoscope, before Donna used it, she would
ask if they would like to listen first. Then she would put the
earpieces in their ears and let them hear their own hearts beating. Their
eyes would light up in surprise and awe, and she would get excited
responses.
"Wow! What's that?"
"It sounds like someone's playing a drum."
"Is there a woodpecker in there?"
One day she let little four-year-old David listen to his
heart. She gently tucked the stethoscope into his tiny ears and placed
the round disk on his chest over his heart.
"Listen, David," she said quietly. "What do you hear? What do
you suppose that is?"
Concentrating really hard, little David pulled his eyebrows
together in a puzzled look and stared up at the ceiling as if lost in the
mystery and wonder of the soft tap, tap, tapping. Then, suddenly, a huge
grin broke out on his cherubic face, and he asked excitedly, "Is that
Jesus knocking on the door of my heart?"
Father, I pray that I will constantly listen for your gentile
tapping on the door of my heart. Help me to open that door and daily
welcome you into my life. I cant make it without you, Lord. Amen.
[The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter by Mary Hollingsworth]
CLOSING THOUGHT
A Letter From Jesus
My Precious Friend:
I am sending you this letter by way of one of my disciples.
I just wanted to let you know how much I Love you and care about
you and how I greatly desire to become a meaningful part of your
life.
This morning when you awoke, I was already there with you in
the light of my beautiful sunshine that filled your room. I was
hoping that you would say good morning to me; you didnt so, I
thought maybe it was just a little too early in the day for you to
notice me.
Again, I tried to get your attention when you stepped out of
your door. I kissed your face with a soft gentle breeze. I breathed
upon you my fragrant sweet breath scented with flowers. Then I sang
a love song through the birds in the trees. You just walked right
past me.
Later on in the day, I watched over you as you were talking
with some of your friends. Oh, how I wished that you would talk to
me also. I waited, and waited, but you just went along your way.
This afternoon, I sent you a refreshing shower and glistened
to you from each rain drop. I even shouted to you a time or two
with thunder trying to get your attention. Then, I painted you a
lovely rainbow in the midst of my fluffy white clouds, I just knew you
would see me then, but you were unaware of my presence.
This evening to close, your day, I sent you a beautiful
sunset. After that, I winked at you a thousand times through my stars
hoping that you would see me and wink back. You never did.
Tonight, when you went to bed, I spilled moonlight upon your
face to let you know that I was there with you. I was hoping that you
would talk to me a little while before you went to sleep. You never
said a word. It Hurt Me Deeply; however, I continued to watch over
you all through the night thinking that maybe, just maybe, you would
say hello to me in the morning.
Each and every day, I have revealed my self to you in many
strange and wondrous ways hoping that you would accept me as your
shepherd, for I am the only one that can supply you with all your needs.
My love for you is deeper than the deepest Ocean and Bigger that
the great Blue Sky. I have so much to give to you and also share
with you. Please let me hear from you soon.
Your Loving Friend Forever,
Jesus [Source: Prison Inmate]
MINI-VIDEO DEVOTIONAL ON THIS PASSAGE BY PASTOR SHAWN BOONSTRA:
http://www.itiswritten.com/television/episodes/7005 [A Better
Way To Live By Shawn Boonstra]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20111212-1311.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20061221-0925.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Music Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINK FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
http://www.aBible.com
