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Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 

~ Revelation 3:20

 

Good morning dear sister!

Of course I would never dream of doing this to you, but imagine your reaction if, while you’re reading this with your morning coffee, I suddenly appeared at your door and said, “Good morning! Here I am! Open up and I’ll share these donuts with you!”

I know for sure that if I saw you walking toward my house, I would be scurrying around trying to tidy up, get dressed or at least have something prepared to offer you ( possibly as a distraction from my mess). Although I would like to make you feel comfortable and welcome, I also wouldn’t want you to see my ‘dirty laundry’ such as chores left undone or anything exposed that might make me look lazy or slothful.

But any outward mess of daily life is what we see with our eyes of flesh. What I would hope my guests would discern would be seen with the eyes of the spirit. I would hope that the fruit of spending time with Jesus would be more evident than dishes in the sink or laundry in baskets. I cherish the love that He gives me for others and would want that to be poured out all over my unannounced guest. But, our hope of living in that kind of love is only possible if we’ve answered that knock and let Jesus in our own house first.

You see, Jesus is talking to the church in this passage! He’s not just knocking on any old door, He’s knocking where those who profess to love Him dwell! 1 John 4:16 tells us “We have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love and the one who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in them.” We dwell in the same house, so to speak, but Jesus may knock on doors to different rooms as we dwell together. 

As believers, we need not fear answering that knock, because the One who is dwelling in us already knows what is happening in our hearts, minds and households! No surprises there! He already knows that we may be scurrying around, hiding stuff in closets or shutting doors to messy rooms. He knows we’re hiding behind the blinds, pretending to be away from home. Trying to hide our sins and shortcomings is useless to the loving eyes that see all, but He is compassionate and will teach us to live in ways that are pleasing to Him and therefore good for peace and joy in our life.

In His love, Jesus prepares us for His knock. He says, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Rev 3:18) He knows our deeds and advises us to exchange our counterfeit worldly riches for true, everlasting glory!

He also reminds us that “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” (Rev 3:19) We are His children, and as the perfect, loving parent, He reproves and disciplines us; urging us to turn away from sin hiding in those dark corners or under the beds.

Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, has come to help us clean the house of our hearts! If we invite Him in, we will have fellowship with Him and even our daily bread with Him! It’s a little scary to think that He knows us so intimately, but, oh the comfort that He loves us so intimately as well! 

It takes a humble heart to ‘keep house’ the way that Jesus wants it. Are we the Queens of our castles? Nope. Do we know better than the One who loves us more than we love ourselves? Nope. Should we be more concerned about the outward appearance than the inward state of those who dwell there? I don’t think so. 

Let’s challenge ourselves to have ears and hearts more diligent and aware of accepting His reproof and discipline when needed. Let us have hearts that are grieved when we grieve Him and be willing to repent. Then we will answer His knock and open that door with gladness!

“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Love, Jesus